Co-Location of a Heat Source Cooling Subsystem and Aquaculture

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides systems for heat source, e.g., data center, cooling and aquaculture. In certain aspects, the systems include a heat source, e.g., data center, having a water cooling subsystem configured to receive cool water and output warm water and an aquaculture center co-located with the heat source, e.g., data center, and configured to receive the warm water. Aspects of the invention also include methods for cooling a heat source, e.g., data center, using a water cooling subsystem and cultivating aquatic organisms with an aquaculture center that is co-located with the heat source, e.g., data center.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e), this application claims priority to thefiling date of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/800,481 filed Mar. 15, 2013; the disclosure of which application isherein incorporated by reference.

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, internet traffic in the United States has risensignificantly. It is estimated that in the United States, internettraffic increased from 40,000-70,000 terabytes/month in 2001 to3,400,000-4,100,000 terabytes/month in 2011. To support the steep growthin internet traffic, a large amount of computer-related infrastructurehas been developed and implemented. One type of infrastructure that hasbeen increasingly utilized is data centers.

Data centers are facilities that house computer systems and associatedcomponents for operation therein. Data centers may include computers,data storage devices, servers, telecommunications systems or otherrelated equipment and may be used to manage, store, process and/orexchange digital information and data. The operation of electricalcomponents within data centers for these functions produces a largeamount of heat. As such, many data centers have intricate coolingsystems designed to cool electrical components so that the componentscan function effectively.

Operation of electrical components and cooling systems within datacenters often requires a large amount of energy. Data center power usecan range from several kW to several tens of MW. Data centers may use,for example, as much electricity as a small town to operate. The powerdensity of a data center may also be more than one-hundred times that ofa typical office building.

Due to the high power usage of data centers, data centers are also oftenresponsible for high carbon emissions. For example, it is estimated thatin 2007 data centers were responsible for 1.5% of the total electricityconsumption in the United States. Likewise, data centers were estimatedto be responsible for 0.5% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UnitedStates in the same year. The amount of greenhouse gas emissions fromdata centers is also expected to rise in the future. For example, it isprojected that greenhouse gas emission from data centers will doublefrom 2007 levels by 2020.

One factor of how much greenhouse gas emission a data center isresponsible for is the energy efficiency of the data center. One commonmeasure of data center energy efficiency is power usage effectiveness,or “PUE”. As discussed further below, PUE is the ratio of the amount oftotal system (e.g., data center) power to the amount of power used bythe electronic (e.g., information technology) equipment of the system.The average data center in the United States has a PUE of 2.0. However,data centers have been developed which have a PUE lower than 2.0.Because data centers having a lower PUE value are more energy efficientthan those having a higher PUE value, they also have less of anenvironmental impact (e.g., produce fewer carbon emissions). As such,developing data centers having low PUE values may help reduce the totalgreenhouse gas emission associated with data centers in the future.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides systems for heat source, e.g., datacenter, cooling and aquaculture. In certain aspects, the systems includea heat source, e.g., data center, having a water cooling subsystemconfigured to receive cool water and output warm water co-located with(and operatively connected to) an aquaculture center, e.g., where theaquaculture center is configured to receive warm water from the coolingsubsystem. Aspects of the invention also include methods for cooling aheat source, e.g., data center, using a water cooling subsystem andcultivating aquatic organisms with an aquaculture center that isco-located with the heat source, e.g., data center.

Systems of the present disclosure, in various instances include a datacenter having a water cooling subsystem configured to receive cool waterand output warm water and an aquaculture center co-located with the datacenter and comprising a water temperature control subsystem configuredto receive the output warm water. In some embodiments, the cool water isreceived from an ocean or sea.

Certain embodiments of the systems having a water cooling subsysteminclude a water intake. The water intake may, in some aspects, bepositioned at a depth of 15 m or more, such as 20 m or more, 25 m ormore, 30 m or more, 35 m or more, etc. in a water source. In particularvariations, the water intake is positioned below the photic zone in awater source.

In select versions, the systems include a water discharge configured fordischarging water from the aquaculture center. The water discharge is,in particular embodiments, positioned at a depth of 15 m or more in abody of water (e.g., an ocean or sea), such as 20 m or more, 25 m ormore, 30 m or more, 35 m or more, etc., in a water source. In someembodiments, the body of water in which the water discharge ispositioned is the same ocean or sea in which the water intake of asystem is positioned.

The power usage effectiveness (PUE) of the data center of the disclosedsystems, in some aspects, is 2 or less. In some aspects, the PUE of thedata center of the disclosed systems is between 1 and 1.3. In someinstances, the data center and aquaculture center of the disclosedsystems are configured to produce fewer carbon emissions as compared tothe same data center and aquaculture center operating independently. Inparticular versions of the systems, the data center and aquaculturecenter are configured to use less energy per amount of data-centercooling and per volume of aquatic organisms cultivated as compared tothe same data center and aquaculture center operating independently.

The disclosed systems, in select aspects, include a power plantco-located with a data center and an aquaculture center. In someinstances, the power plant is operably connected to both of the datacenter and the aquaculture center. In certain aspects of the disclosedsystems, the data center, aquaculture center and power plant areconfigured to produce fewer carbon emissions as compared to the samedata center, aquaculture center and power plant operating independently.In certain versions of the systems, the data center, aquaculture centerand power plant are configured to use less energy per amount ofdata-center cooling and per amount of aquatic organisms cultured ascompared to the same data center, water desalination plant and powerplant operating independently.

Also provided by the present disclosure are methods for cooling a heatsource, e.g., a data center and cultivating aquatic organisms. Incertain instances, the methods include (1) cooling a heat source, e.g.,a data center, with a water cooling subsystem comprising a cool waterintake and a warm water discharge; and (2) cultivating aquatic organismswith an aquaculture center comprising a water temperature controlsubsystem comprising a warm water intake and a cool water discharge,e.g., by using a system as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be best understood from the following detaileddescription when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.Included in the drawings are the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system including a data center and aquaculturecenter co-located with the data center, according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a system including a data center, aquaculturecenter co-located with the data center and power plant co-located withthe data center and aquaculture center, according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

DEFINITIONS

The term “data center”, as used herein and described in further detailbelow, refers to a facility configured and/or used for physicallyhousing (i.e., containing within it) one or more computer systems and/orassociated components. In certain embodiments, data centers include thecomponents therein and manage, store, process and/or exchange digitalinformation and data.

The term “aquaculture”, as used herein, is synonymous with the term“aquafarming” and refers to the cultivation (i.e., farming)(e.g.,hatching and/or breeding and/or rearing) of aquatic organisms (e.g.,fish, crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic plants, etc.). Aquaculture mayinvolve cultivating salt water and/or fresh water populations oforganisms under controlled conditions. “Aquaculture” may be “extensiveaquaculture”, based on local photosynthentical production and/or“intensive aquaculture”, in which organisms are fed with external foodsupply. In certain embodiments wherein aquaculture is specificallylimited to the farming of fish, it is referred to as “pisciculture”.

By “aquaculture center”, as used herein and described in further detailbelow, is meant a facility configured and/or used for cultivating (i.e.,farming) aquatic organisms (i.e., organisms that live and/or grow in, onor near water). In certain embodiments, aquaculture centers housecomponents configured to control conditions important to the cultivationof aquatic organisms (e.g., water temperature, pH, oxygenation,bacterial concentration, etc.).

Likewise, as used herein and described in further detail below, the term“desalination plant” refers to a facility configured and/or used fordesalinating water. In some embodiments, desalination plants housecomponents for desalinating water.

The terms “desalinate” and “desalination”, as used herein, refer to anyof several processes to remove an amount of salt and/or other mineralsor components from saline water (i.e., water that contains aconcentration of at least one dissolved salt). In some embodiments ofthe disclosed systems, desalination is removing an amount of salt and/orother minerals or components from saline water so that the water is fitfor consumption by a living organism (i.e., a living organism mayconsume the water and thereby maintain a healthy hydration level and/ora living organism may consume the water without the water having adetrimental effect on the organism's health). In some embodiments of thedisclosed systems, desalination makes water potable. In certainembodiments the living organism is a “mammal” or “mammalian”, wherethese terms are used broadly to describe organisms which are within theclass mammalia, including the orders carnivore (e.g., dogs and cats),rodentia (e.g., mice, guinea pigs, and rats), and primates (e.g.,humans, chimpanzees, and monkeys). In some embodiments, the livingorganism is a human. The term “human” may include human subjects of bothgenders and at any stage of development (e.g., fetal, neonates, infant,juvenile, adolescent, adult), where in certain embodiments the humansubject is a juvenile, adolescent or adult. In some embodiments of thedisclosed systems, desalination is removing an amount of salt and/orother minerals or components from saline water so that the water is fitfor a specific purpose (e.g., irrigation).

The terms “co-locate”, “co-located” and “co-locating”, as used hereinrefer to placing two or more things in proximity (i.e., within a certaindistance). In some aspects of the disclosed systems, co-located unitsmay be located such that they share one or more common aspects (e.g.,facilities or components such as specific systems or machinery). In someaspects, co-located units may be located, for example, within 0.1 m; 1m; 10 m; 100 m; 1,000 m; 10,000 m; or 100,000 m of one another. Incertain embodiments, co-located units are two or more facilities locatedon immediately adjacent or abutting areas or parcels of land. In certainembodiments, co-located units are two or more facilities located on thesame area of land. In some versions of the disclosed systems, co-locatedunits may be located such that they are in fluid communication (i.e.,the units are configured such that at least one fluid may move and/orflow between the units). In certain variations of the disclosed systems,co-located units are located such that they share one or more of thecomponents described herein (e.g., a water cooling subsystem). Incertain embodiments of the disclosed systems, co-located units arelocated such that they are electrically connected (i.e., connected by atleast one conductive material) and/or share at least one electricalcomponent. In particular instances, co-located units are located suchthat their location allows them to be more energy-efficient (i.e., useless energy for the same amount of productivity) than the units would beif they were located in a different position (e.g., a greater distanceaway from each other). In various embodiments, co-located units arelocated such that their location allows them to produce fewer carbonemissions (e.g., carbon dioxide emissions) or have a smaller carbonfootprint than the units would if they were located in a differentposition (e.g., a greater distance away from each other). In selectversions, co-located units are located such that their location allowsthem to minimize potential pollutants (e.g., thermal pollution) emittedtherefrom. In certain versions of the disclosed systems, co-locatedunits may be located such that they are operably connected.

By “operably connected”, as used herein, is meant connected in aspecific way (e.g., in a manner allowing water to move and/or electricpower to be transmitted) that allows the disclosed system and itsvarious components to operate effectively in the manner describedherein. For example, a power plant operably connected to a data centermay allow electricity to flow (i.e., be transmitted along at least oneconductive material) between the power plant and the data center suchthat the energy required to operate the data center would be at leastpartially obtained from the power plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides systems for heat source, e.g., datacenter, cooling and aquaculture. In certain aspects, the systems includea heat source, e.g., data center, having a water cooling subsystemconfigured to receive cool water and output warm water and anaquaculture center co-located with the heat source, e.g., data center,and configured to receive the warm water. Aspects of the invention alsoinclude methods for cooling a heat source, e.g., data center, using awater cooling subsystem and cultivating aquatic organisms with anaquaculture center that is co-located with the heat source, e.g., datacenter.

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it is to beunderstood that this invention is not limited to particular embodimentsdescribed, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understoodthat the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describingparticular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, sincethe scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appendedclaims.

Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that eachintervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lowerlimits of that range is also specifically disclosed. Each smaller rangebetween any stated value or intervening value in a stated range and anyother stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassedwithin the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller rangesmay independently be included or excluded in the range, and each rangewhere either, neither or both limits are included in the smaller rangesis also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specificallyexcluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes oneor both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those includedlimits are also included in the invention.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used inthe practice or testing of the present invention, some potential andexemplary methods and materials may now be described. Any and allpublications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference todisclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection withwhich the publications are cited. It is understood that the presentdisclosure supersedes any disclosure of an incorporated publication tothe extent there is a contradiction.

It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, thesingular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “anintake” includes a plurality of such intakes and reference to “thematerial” includes reference to one or more materials and equivalentsthereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.

It is also noted that definitions provided in one section of thisapplication (e.g., the “Systems” section) may also apply to embodimentsdescribed in another section of the application (e.g., the “Methods”section) even if a term is described as applying to an embodiment of aparticular section.

It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude anyelement which may be optional. As such, this statement is intended toserve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as“solely”, “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claimelements, or the use of a “negative” limitation.

The publications discussed herein are provided solely for theirdisclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothingherein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention isnot entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention.Further, the dates of publication provided may be different from theactual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed.To the extent such publications may set out definitions of a term thatconflict with the explicit or implicit definition of the presentdisclosure, the definition of the present disclosure controls.

As will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading thisdisclosure, each of the individual embodiments described and illustratedherein has discrete components and features which may be readilyseparated from or combined with the features of any of the other severalembodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the presentinvention. Any recited method can be carried out in the order of eventsrecited or in any other order which is logically possible.

Systems

The present disclosure provides systems for heat source cooling andaquaculture. The systems include a heat source having a water coolingsubsystem configured to receive and output water (e.g., cool and warmwater, respectively) and an aquaculture center co-located with the heatsource and configured to receive the output water (e.g., warm water).

In the broadest sense, any heat source that may be cooled with a watercooling subsystem may be colocated in systems of the invention. Heatsources of interest include, but are not limited to: data centers, powerplants, power generators (e.g., reciprocating engines), refrigerationfacilities, etc. For purposes of further description, heat sources ofthe invention are further described in terms of data center embodiments.However, it is understood that the invention is not so limited.

FIG. 1 provides a diagram of one embodiment of a disclosed system 100including a data center 101, an aquaculture center 102 co-located withthe data center, a water intake 103 positioned below the photic zone 104in a water source 105, a water discharge 106 positioned below the photiczone 104 in a body of water which, in this version, is the same as thewater source. FIG. 1 also depicts possible directions of water movementwithin the system 107-109, an operable connection 110 (e.g., aconnection through which water may move and/or electric power may betransmitted) between the aquaculture center 101 and desalination plant102, and a coupling component (111), as well as other components andaspects described further below.

In certain instances, and as depicted by the diagram of FIG. 2, asubject system 200 may include many of the same components and aspectsillustrated in FIG. 1, including a data center 101, an aquaculturecenter 102 co-located with the data center, and may also include a powerplant 201 co-located with the data center and the aquaculture center,operable connections 202, 203 (e.g., connections through which water maymove and/or electric power may be transmitted) between the power plant,data center and/or aquaculture center, and other components and aspectsdescribed herein.

Various aspects of the embodiments of the systems shall now be describedin greater detail below.

Data Center

Embodiments of the disclosed systems include one or more data centers.As used herein, the term “data center” refers to a facility configuredand/or used for physically housing (i.e., containing within it) one ormore computer systems and/or associated components. In certainembodiments, data centers include the components therein and manage,store, process and/or exchange digital information and data.

In particular aspects, data centers may include computers, data storagedevices, servers (e.g., web servers, database servers and/or applicationservers), switches, routers, vaults, load balancers, racks, wire cagesor closets and/or related equipment. Data centers may include redundantdata communications connections, backup or redundant power supplies,security devices, and/or fire suppression systems. In some instances,data centers include data storage systems and/or telecommunicationssystems.

Some versions of data centers are used for providing applicationservices or management for various types of data processing (e.g.,intranet, web hosting internet). In particular embodiments, data centersare used, for example, to operate and manage one or more carriers'telecommunication network, provide data center applications directly toone or more carriers' customers and/or provide hosted applications forone or more third parties to provide services to customers.

Embodiments of data centers include data centers that are within one ormore buildings. In certain aspects, data centers occupy one or morerooms of a building, one or more floors of a building or an entirebuilding.

In some instances, data centers are electrically powered. For example,certain embodiments of data centers consume electricity to operate.Power draw for data centers may range from a few kW (e.g., one, two,three, four or five kW) to several tens of MW (e.g., one, two, three,four, five, six, seven, eight or nine tens of MW) for larger facilities.In select aspects of data centers, the data centers have power densitiesof more than one-hundred times that of an average office building. Insome embodiments of data centers, electricity costs are the primaryoperating expense of the data center and may account for 10% or more ofa data center's total cost of ownership.

Embodiments of data centers are operably connected to at least one powersource (e.g., one or more power plants, as described herein). Certainversions of data centers include a power source (e.g., a source fromwhich electrical power may be obtained). Power sources, in someembodiments, generate or obtain power from renewable energy sources.Renewable energy sources include, for example, one or more systems ordevices configured to convert one or more forms of energy (e.g., solar,wind, wave, biofuel, biomass, tidal and/or geothermal energy) to anotherform (e.g., electric power). For example, a power source may be one ormore solar panels.

In certain embodiments, data centers use an amount of energy for eachfunction performed by the data center or components thereof. Forexample, data centers or systems including data centers may use aspecific amount of energy per amount of data center cooling. In someaspects, data centers or systems including data centers have a degree ofenergy efficiency that may be quantified as the power usageeffectiveness (PUE) of the data center or system including a data center(e.g., a PUE of 1.0; 1.1; 1.2; 1.3; 1.4; 1.5; 1.6; 1.7; 1.8; 1.9; or2.0). The PUE is the ratio of the total power entering a system (e.g., adata center and optionally, a desalination plant and/or a data centerpower source, such as a power plant) to the power used by the computersystems and/or associated components (e.g., information technologyequipment) within the system (e.g., the data center). In variousaspects, a PUE is the inverse of the data center infrastructureefficiency (DCiE). In some versions, systems (e.g., data centers) have aPUE of 2.0 or less, such as 1.9 or less, e.g., 1.8, 1.7, 1.6, 1.5, 1.4,1.3, 1.2 or 1.1 or less (e.g., a PUE ranging from 1.0 to 2.0). In someembodiments, a system (e.g., a data center) has a PUE ranging from 1.0to 1.3. In some instances, a system, (e.g., a data center) has a PUE ofor about 1.0, where a PUE of or about 1.0 is a PUE near, and greaterthan, 1.0 (e.g., 1.01 or 1.02 or 1.03 or 1.04 or 1.05 or 1.06 or 1.07 or1.08 or 1.09 or 1.1 or 1.15 or 1.2 or 1.25 or 1.3 and/or within therange 1.01 to 1.30). In determining the PUE of data centers of theinvention, one may factor in a component that represents the reducedenergy used by the desalination plant in desalinating the warm wateroutput of the data center cooling subsystem. Any convenient protocol forfactoring in this component into the PUE determination may be employed.For example, the reduction in energy used by the desalination plantresulting from co-location of the desalination plant with the datacenter (and particularly by using the warm output warm water from thedata center) may be added to the amount of energy input into the datacenter which is used by the computer systems and/or associatedcomponents (e.g., information technology equipment).

In some embodiments, data centers and/or power sources of data centersproduce carbon emissions. In certain aspects, data centers (e.g., datacenters operating independently) produce an amount of carbon emissionsfor each function or portion of a function performed by the data centeror components thereof.

Data centers, in certain instances, produce heat. As such, certainversions of data centers include environmental control systems (e.g.,one or more air conditioning units) for controlling at least a portionof the environment with a data center. In some aspects, environmentalcontrol systems include the water cooling subsystems described herein.In some aspects, environmental control systems include temperaturecontrol systems that are configured to heat and/or cool at least aportion of the data centers. In some instances, environmental controlsystems include humidity control systems that are configured to controlthe amount of humidity in at least a portion of the data centers. Insome aspects, environmental control systems include pressure controlsystems that are configured to control the pressure level in at least aportion of the data centers. Some versions of environmental controlsystems are configured to maintain at least a portion of a data centerand/or computer related equipment therein at a temperature between 16°C. and 24° C. (e.g., 17° C.; 18° C.; 19° C.; 20° C.; 21° C.; 22° C. or23° C.) and/or within a humidity range of 40%-55% and/or with a maximumdew point of 15° C.

In various instances, and as noted above, data centers include one ormore water cooling subsystems. The phrases “water cooling subsystem” and“water cooling subsystems”, as used herein, refer to an interconnectedstructure located at least partially within a data center that isconfigured to cool at least one component (e.g., a server) or portion(e.g., a room) of the data center. Where desired, the interconnectedstructure of a water cooling subsystem includes one or more components(e.g., pipes and/or containers) configured to carry water from onelocation (e.g., the location of the intake) to another location. Incertain embodiments, water cooling subsystems include a warm waterdischarge and/or output. In some embodiments, water cooling subsystemsare water-tight except for an intake for receiving water into thesubsystems and warm water discharge and/or output for discharging waterout of the subsystems. The water cooling subsystem, in select instances,may be configured to receive water (e.g., cool water) from an oceanand/or sea and/or river and/or lake and/or groundwater source and/orother water source. In some versions, the water cooling subsystem may beoperably connected (e.g., in fluid communication with) an aquaculturecenter (e.g., a salt water aquaculture center) or a component thereof(e.g., a water temperature control subsystem).

The term “water”, as used herein, refers to the chemical compound havingthe chemical formula H₂O. Water may also be salt water (e.g., seawater)and as such may include one or more components (e.g., salts) dissolvedtherein. Salt water (e.g., seawater) may have a salinity of about 3.5%(35 g/L, or 599 mM) (e.g., a salinity of 3.4% to 3.6% or 3.1% to 3.8%).Water may also be fresh water (i.e, water having a lower concentrationof dissolved salts than salt water). Fresh water may be desalinatedwater. Naturally occurring fresh water may be found, for example instreams, ponds, rivers, icebergs, ice caps, glaciers, aquifers, and/orlakes. Fresh water does not include seawater or brackish water (i.e.,water having more salinity than fresh water but not as much salinity asseawater). Fresh water may have a dissolved salt concentration of, forexample, less than 0.05%; brackish water may have a dissolved saltconcentration between, for example, 0.05% to 3%; saline water (e.g.,seawater) may have a dissolved salt concentration between, for example,3%-5%; and brine may have a dissolved salt concentration of, forexample, greater than 5%. Water may also be in the form of a liquidand/or gas.

Water, as described in the application, may also have a variety ofdifferent temperatures. By “cool” water, as used herein, is meant waterthat has a lower temperature than “warm” water, as described herein. Insome aspects the temperature of cool water is within the range 1° C. to35° C. For example, in some instances the temperature of cool water iswithin one of the following ranges: 1° C. to 10° C.; 11° C. to 20° C.;21° C. to 30° C.; 31° C. to 35° C.; 12° C. to 19° C.; 13° C. to 18° C.;14° C. to 17° C.; 15° C. to 16° C.; 1° C. to 20° C.; 2° C. to 19° C.; 3°C. to 18° C.; 4° C. to 17° C.; 5° C. to 16° C.; 6° C. to 15° C.; 7° C.to 14° C.; 7° C. to 13° C.; 8° C. to 12° C.; or 9° C. to 11° C. Inparticular aspects, the temperature difference between cool water andwarm water may range from 1° C. to 99° C. For example, the temperaturedifference between cool water and warm water may be 1° C.; 2° C.; 3° C.;4° C.; 5° C.; 6° C.; 7° C.; 8° C.; 9° C.; 10° C.; 11° C.; 12° C.; 13°C.; 14° C.; 15° C.; 16° C.; 17° C.; 18° C.; 19° C.; 20° C.; 21° C. 22°C.; 23° C.; 24° C.; 25° C.; 26° C.; 27° C.; 28° C.; 29° C.; 30° C.; 31°C. 32° C.; 33° C.; 34° C.; 35° C.; 36° C.; 37° C.; 38° C.; 39° C.; 40°C.; 41° C. 42° C.; 43° C.; 44° C.; 45° C.; 46° C.; 47° C.; 48° C.; 49°C.; 50° C.; 51° C. 52° C.; 53° C.; 54° C.; 55° C.; 56° C.; 57° C.; 58°C.; 59° C.; 60° C.; 61° C. 62° C.; 63° C.; 64° C.; 65° C.; 66° C.; 67°C.; 68° C.; 69° C.; 70° C.; 71° C. 72° C.; 73° C.; 74° C.; 75° C.; 76°C.; 77° C.; 78° C.; 79° C.; 80° C.; 81° C. 82° C.; 83° C.; 84° C.; 85°C.; 86° C.; 87° C.; 88° C.; 89° C.; 90° C.; 91° C.; 92° C.; 93° C.; 94°C.; 95° C.; 96° C.; 97° C.; 98° C.; or 99° C. The temperature differencebetween cool water and warm water may also be, for example, at least 1°C.; at least 2° C.; at least 3° C.; at least 4° C.; at least 5° C.; atleast 10° C.; at least 15° C.; at least 20° C.; at least 25° C.; atleast 30° C.; at least 35° C.; at least 40° C.; or at least 50° C. Insome aspects, cool water may have a temperature within one of the abovelisted ranges when the cool water enters and/or exits a component of thesystems described herein (e.g., the water intake). In some aspects, coolwater may have the same temperature as the water source from which thecool water is taken. For example, cool water may have the sametemperature as that of the portion of ocean or sea surrounding (e.g., alocation at or within a distance of 1 m and/or 10 m and/or 100 m and/or1000 m) one or more elements of the system disclosed herein (e.g., awater intake and/or a water discharge). In certain aspects of thedisclosed systems, the cool water is received into the systems from anocean or sea. In some instances, the temperature of cool water increasesand/or decreases as the water progresses through the disclosed systems.

By “warm” water, as used herein, is meant water that has a highertemperature than “cool” water, as described herein. In some aspects thetemperature of warm water is within the range 36° C. to 100° C. Forexample, in some instances the temperature of warm water is within oneof the following ranges: 36° C. to 40° C.; 41° C. to 50° C.; 51° C. to60° C.; 61° C. to 70° C.; 71° C. to 80° C.; 81° C. to 90° C.; 91° C. to99° C.; 40° C. to 45° C.; 46° C. to 50° C.; 51° C. to 55° C.; 56° C. to60° C.; 61° C. to 65° C.; 66° C. to 70° C.; 36° C. to 60° C.; 37° C. to59° C.; 38° C. to 58° C.; 39° C. to 57° C.; 40° C. to 56° C.; 41° C. to55° C.; 42° C. to 54° C.; 43° C. to 53° C.; 44° C. to 52° C.; 45° C. to51° C.; 46° C. to 50° C.; or 47° C. to 49° C. As noted above, inparticular instances, the temperature difference between cool water andwarm water may range from 1° C. to 99° C. For example, the temperaturedifference between cool water and warm water may be, at least 1° C.; atleast 2° C.; at least 3° C.; at least 4° C.; at least 5° C.; at least10° C.; at least 15° C.; at least 20° C.; at least 25° C.; at least 30°C.; at least 35° C.; at least 40° C.; or at least 50° C. In someaspects, warm water may have a temperature within one of the abovelisted ranges when the warm water enters and/or exits a component of thesystems described herein (e.g., the water discharge). In some aspects,warm water may have a higher temperature than the water source fromwhich the cool water is taken. For example, warm water may have a highertemperature than that of the portion of ocean or sea surrounding (e.g.,a location at or within a distance of 1 m and/or 10 m and/or 100 mand/or 1000 m) one or more elements of the system disclosed herein(e.g., a water intake and/or a water discharge). In some embodiments,the temperature of warm water increases and/or decreases as the waterprogresses through the disclosed systems.

In some aspects, the water cooling subsystem may be configured to carrycool water to at least one location in a data center (e.g., a locationwhere heat is produced by the data center) where the cool water isheated and thereby converted to warm water. Cool water may be heated andconverted to warm water within a heat exchange element of a watercooling subsystem, which is described in further detail below. The watercooling subsystem may also, in some instances, be configured to carrywarm water away from one location in a data center (e.g., the locationof a heat exchange element) to another location (e.g., a locationoutside a portion of the data center which contains one or more computersystems and/or associated components). Where desired, the water coolingsubsystem is configured to carry heat energy away from one or morecomputer systems and/or associated components that generate heat energyby allowing generated heat energy to be transferred to water (e.g. coolwater) within the water cooling subsystem (e.g., within a heat exchangeelement of the water cooling subsystem) and thereafter, transferring theheated water (e.g., warm water) away from the position within the datacenter where it was heated. By transferring water within a data centerand thereby cooling one or more computer systems and/or associatedcomponents within the data center, the water cooling subsystem optimizesthe operation of the systems and/or components by providing anenvironment in which the systems and/or components may effectivelyoperate.

In certain instances, water cooling subsystems include a heat exchangeelement. In particular embodiments, heat exchange elements areconfigured to cool one or more locations and/or components within a datacenter. For example, heat exchange elements may be configured to allowan exchange of heat produced by a data center at a first location to amedium (e.g., air and/or water) and thereafter transfer the heatedmedium to a second location so that the first location of the datacenter and/or components at the first location are cooled. In someaspects, heat exchange elements are configured such that a medium (e.g.,cool water) may be channeled into the heat exchange element (e.g., froma first portion of the water cooling subsystem) and/or a medium (e.g.,warm water) may be channeled out of the heat exchange element (e.g., toa second portion of the water cooling subsystem).

In select aspects, a heat exchange element is an air conditioning system(e.g., one or more air conditioning units). In some instances, heatexchange elements are configured to cool air around (e.g., in the sameroom of a data center as data center components) components (e.g.,electrical components) of the data center which produce heat. In someinstances, heat exchange elements are configured to allow the transferof heat from air (e.g., air heated by data center components) around(e.g., in the same room of a data center as data center components)components (e.g., electrical components) of the data center whichproduce heat to cool water. Such an exchange will result in the airbeing cooled and the water being warmed (e.g., to warm water).Accordingly, in some aspects, cool water is heated to warm water withinthe heat exchange element. In certain instances, heat exchange elementsare configured to remove air that has been heated by components of adata center from the area of the data center (e.g., room) in which thecomponents are located.

In certain embodiments, heat exchange elements are one or more channels(e.g., channels having a large interior and/or exterior surface area)physically integrated with components of a data center (e.g., electroniccomponents which produce heat). Where desired, heat exchange elementsare configured such that water may flow through them and therebytransfer heat away from the data center components. In some versions,the heat exchange element is operably connected to the remainder of thewater cooling subsystem at one or more locations (e.g., one, two, three,four or five locations). In select aspects, the heat exchange element iscomposed of the same materials as the remainder of the water coolingsubsystem or different materials. Examples of heat exchange elementsthat may be utilized either wholly or partially in connection with thedisclosed systems are provided by U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,374,627; 8,0094,30;7,525,207; 7,347,058; 8,004,832; 7,810,341; 7,808,780; 6,574,104;6,859,366; 8,157,626; 7,881,057; 6,980,433; 6,945,058; 6,854,284;6,834,512; 6,775,997; 6,772,604; 8,113,010; 8,276,397; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/531,215; U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/372,100; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/844,658; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/873,909; U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/264,648; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/332,708, thedisclosures of each which are incorporated by reference herein.

As noted above, in certain embodiments, water cooling subsystems includea warm water discharge and/or warm water output. In various instances,warm water discharges are operably connected (e.g., attached in awater-tight manner) to aquaculture centers (e.g., salt water aquaculturecenters) and/or desalination plants and/or power plants. In someversions, warm water discharges are part of the same structure as thecoupling components described herein. Where desired, warm waterdischarges expel warm water out of a water cooling subsystem and/or intoa water source or body of water. In select embodiments, warm waterdischarges include one or more openings through which warm water maymove (e.g., flow). In certain embodiments, a warm water discharge is apipe and may be made of the same and/or different materials and/or typesof materials as the water intakes described herein. In certain versions,a warm water discharge is positioned inside or outside a portion of thedata center which contains one or more computer systems and/orassociated components. The water cooling subsystem, in certainembodiments, includes a water intake. In some aspects, the water intakeincludes one or more openings (e.g., holes, gaps and/or slits) in thewater cooling system configured to receive water (e.g., cool water) intothe water cooling subsystem. For example, the water intake may be one ormore pipes having one or more (i.e., one, two, three, four, five, six,seven, eight, nine, or ten or more) openings (e.g., an open end)positioned within a body of water such that water may flow into the oneor more pipes. In some embodiments, a water intake or an opening thereinis shaped as a circle, rectangle, square, slit, polygon, quadrilateral,oval, semi-circle, or other shape. In select instances, a water intakeor an opening therein may have a single defined radius of symmetry. Insome versions, a water intake or an opening therein may have radii ofcurvature lying within a single plane (e.g., a vertical plane or ahorizontal plane).

In certain embodiments, water intakes (e.g., one or more openings inwater intakes) are configured to intake or otherwise have an amount ofwater (e.g., seawater) move through them in a set time period (e.g., aminute or hour or day). For example, water intakes may be configured tointake up to: 5,000 L/day; 10,000 L/day; 15,000 L/day; 20,000 L/day;25,000 L/day; 30,000 L/day; 35,000 L/day; 40,000 L/day; 45,000 L/day;50,000 L/day; 55,000 L/day; 60,000 L/day; 65,000 L/day; 70,000 L/day;75,000 L/day; 80,000 L/day; 85,000 L/day; 90,000 L/day; 95,000 L/day;100,000 L/day; 150,000 L/day; 200,000 L/day; 250,000 L/day; 300,000L/day; 350,000 L/day; 400,000 L/day; 450,000 L/day; 500,000 L/day;550,000 L/day; 600,000 L/day; 650,000 L/day; 700,000 L/day; 750,000L/day; 800,000 L/day; 850,000 L/day; 900,000 L/day; 950,000 L/day; 1million L/day; 5 million L/day; 10 million L/day; 20 million L/day; 30million L/day; 40 million L/day; 50 million L/day; 60 million L/day; 70million L/day; 80 million L/day; 90 million L/day; 100 million L/day;110 million L/day; 120 million L/day; 130 million L/day; 140 millionL/day; 150 million L/day; 160 million L/day; 170 million L/day; 180million L/day; 190 million L/day; 200 million L/day; 220 million L/day;240 million L/day; 260 million L/day; 280 million L/day; 300 millionL/day; 400 million L/day; 500 million L/day; or 1 billion L/day. Waterintakes may also be configured to intake more than 1 billion L/day.Water intakes, in particular embodiments, may be configured to intake anamount of water in any of the ranges: 5,000 L/day to 1 billion L/day;5,000 L/day to 1 million L/day; 5,000 L/day to 100 million L/day; 5,000L/day to 20,000 L/day; 20,000 L/day to 40,000 L/day; 40,000 L/day to60,000 L/day; 60,000 L/day to 80,000 L/day; 80,000 L/day to 100,000L/day; 100,000 L/day to 120,000 L/day; 120,000 L/day to 140,000 L/day;140,000 L/day to 160,000 L/day; 160,000 L/day to 180,000 L/day; 180,000L/day to 200,000 L/day; 200,000 L/day to 250,000 L/day; 250,000 L/day to300,000 L/day; 3000,000 L/day to 350,000 L/day; 100,000 L/day to 200,000L/day; 200,000 L/day to 300,000 L/day; 300,000 L/day to 400,000 L/day;400,000 L/day to 500,000 L/day; 500,000 L/day to 600,000 L/day; 600,000L/day to 700,000 L/day; 700,000 L/day to 800,000 L/day; 800,000 L/day to900,000 L/day; 900,000 L/day to 1 million L/day; 1 million L/day to 20million L/day; 20 million L/day to 40 million L/day; 40 million L/day to60 million L/day; 60 million L/day to 80 million L/day; or 80 millionL/day to 100 million L/day. In some aspects, intakes are configured suchthat the amount of water moving (e.g., flowing) through an intake may bevariable within a time period (e.g., one minute, one hour, one day, onemonth, one year).

In particular aspects, the water intake or a portion thereof ispositioned outside the portion of the data center containing the one ormore computer systems and/or associated components. For example, in somevariations, the water intake is positioned outside the building housingthe one or more computer systems and/or associated components. Wheredesired, the intake is in fluid communication with at least one portionof the water cooling subsystem located inside the portion of the datacenter containing the one or more computer systems and/or associatedcomponents wherein cool water is heated (e.g., heated to warm water).

Embodiments of the water cooling subsystems include a water intakepositioned at a depth of 15 m or more, e.g., 20 m or more, 25 m or more,30 m or more, 35 m or more, in a water source. Some variations of thewater cooling subsystems include a water intake and/or at least oneopening therein (e.g., an opening at the end of the intake furthest fromthe portion of the data center housing computer systems and relatedcomponents) positioned at a depth of 1 m or more; 2 m or more; 3 m ormore; 4 m or more; 5 m or more; 6 m or more; 7 m or more; 8 m or more; 9m or more; 10 m or more; 11 m or more; 12 m or more; 13 m or more; 14 mor more; 16 m or more; 17 m or more; 18 m or more; 19 m or more; 20 m ormore; 25 m or more; 30 m or more; 35 m or more; 40 m or more; 45 m ormore; 50 m or more; 60 m or more; 70 m or more; 80 m or more; 90 m ormore; 100 m or more; 200 m or more; and/or 300 m or more in a watersource. In some aspects, water cooling subsystems include a water intakeand/or at least one opening therein positioned below and/or within aparticular zone (e.g., euphotic and/or disphotic, and/or aphotic zoneand/or benthic zone) in a water source. Water cooling subsystems, inselect versions, include a water intake and/or at least one openingtherein positioned below the photic zone in a water source.

Embodiments of water cooling subsystems, and in certain versions waterintakes, include one or more filters configured for purifying water. Inselect instances, at least one filter is located at one or more openingsin the intake and/or at the end of the intake furthest from the portionof the data center housing the computer systems and/or relatedequipment. Where desired, a filter is positioned within the portion ofthe data center housing the computer systems and/or related equipment.

Water cooling subsystems and/or water intakes thereof may, in variousembodiments, be composed of one or more materials or one or more typesof materials. Examples of materials that the water cooling subsystems ofthe disclosed systems may be composed of include polymers, ceramics,metals, glasses and/or a combination thereof. In some instances, thewater cooling subsystems are not composed of metal or material that issubject to corrosion (e.g., corrosion by rust). In some embodiments,water cooling subsystems are composed of plumbing materials. Forexample, water cooling subsystems may be composed of polyvinyl chloride(PVC) pipes and/or joints and one or more adhesives for fastening thepipes in a water-tight manner. Where appropriate, one or more materialsof the water cooling subsystems may be rigid. In some aspects, one ormore materials of the water cooling subsystems may be flexible (e.g.,one or more rubber tubes or hoses). However, these examples of materialsare not limiting and the materials of the water cooling subsystems maybe any material, or combination of materials, having the structural andchemical properties necessary to function in the disclosed systems asdescribed herein.

The water cooling subsystem, in various instances, includes a pump. Insome embodiments, a pump is a means for causing water to move throughwater cooling subsystems and/or other components (e.g., water intakes;water discharges and/or desalination plants), as described herein. Inselect variations, a pump causes water to move unidirectionally orbidirectionally through water cooling subsystems and/or other components(e.g., water intakes; water discharges and/or desalination plants), asdescribed herein. In some instances, a pump is electrically poweredand/or fossil fuel powered and/or powered by another means. In certainaspects, a pump is operably connected to a power source (i.e., the powersource of the data center), as described herein. In some aspects, a pumpmay be operably connected to a power plant. In particular versions,tides, and/or a pump powered by tides, cause water to move through thewater cooling subsystems and/or other components (i.e., desalinationplants) described herein. In some embodiments, one or more pumps arelocated within data centers and/or desalination plants, as describedherein. In select embodiments, one or more pumps are located outsidedata centers and/or desalination plants, as described herein.

In particular aspects, water cooling subsystems include one or morevalves within the subsystems for controlling the movement of waterthrough the system. In some embodiments, the valves are controllable(e.g., configured to be opened and/or closed in reaction to a designatedsignal or action). Where desired, each valve is individuallycontrollable (e.g., a valve may be opened and or closed while othervalves are not). In select embodiments, the one or more valves includeelectrical components and may be configured to receive an electronicsignal from a controller operably connected thereto.

Aquaculture Center

Embodiments of the disclosed systems include one or more aquaculturecenters. As noted above, the term “aquaculture center”, as used herein,is meant a facility configured and/or used for cultivating (i.e.,farming) aquatic organisms. Aquatic organisms cultivated in aquaculturecenters may be grown entirely in, on or near water. In certainembodiments, aquaculture centers house components configured to controlconditions important to the cultivation of aquatic organisms (e.g.,water temperature, pH, oxygenation, organic waste concentration,bacterial concentration, etc.).

Conditions important to the cultivation of aquatic organisms may bedifferent for different types of organisms. For example, certain typesof fish thrive (e.g., have a higher survival rate and/or proliferatemore successfully) when they are in water of a certain temperature. Insome instances, retaining aquatic organisms (e.g., fish) in water at awarmer temperature (e.g., a water temperature higher than the organism'snatural water temperature) allow them to breed year-round and as such,cause the organisms to proliferate more successfully.

General ranges of water temperatures optimal for “coldwater” species offish are temperatures between about 12° C. and 18° C. “Coldwater”species of fish include, for example, all species of salmon and trout.Likewise, general ranges of water temperatures optimal for “coolwater”species of fish are temperatures between about 18° C. and 24° C.“Coolwater” species of fish include, for example, walleye and yellowperch. In addition, general ranges of water temperatures optimal for“warmwater” species of fish are temperatures between about 24° C. and33° C. “Warmwater” species of fish include, for example, channel catfishand tilapia.

Aquatic organisms cultivated in aquaculture centers may include, forexample, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and/or aquatic plants. Types offish cultivated in aquaculture centers may include, for example, carp,salmon, tilapia, tuna (e.g., Bluefin tuna; coax tuna), bass (e.g., seabass, such as Black sea bass), halibut (e.g., Alaskan halibut; Pacifichalibut) and catfish. Types of fish cultivated in aquaculture centersmay include, for example, only certain types of organisms (e.g., fish),such as only halibut (e.g., only Alaskan halibut) or only bass (e.g.,only sea bass) or only halibut (Alaskan halibut) and bass (sea bass).Optimal water temperatures (e.g., water temperatures allowing successfulproliferation) for halibut (e.g., Alaskan halibut; Pacific halibut)range from about 3° C. to 8° C. Optimal water temperatures (e.g., watertemperatures allowing successful proliferation) for bass (e.g., seabass) range from about 10° C. to 29° C.

Aquatic plants cultivated in aquaculture centers may include, forexample, microalgae (i.e., phytoplankton, microphytes, or planktonicalgae) or macroalgae (i.e., seaweed). Aquatic organisms may also includesponges (e.g., sea sponges). Types of crustaceans cultivated inaquaculture centers may include, for example, shrimp (e.g., Pacificwhite shrimp; giant tiger prawn; giant river prawn), lobster or crabs.Mollusks cultivated in aquaculture centers may include, for example,various oyster, clam or mussel species (e.g., abalone).

Aquatic organisms cultured in aquaculture centers may be those that areadapted to live only in salt water and/or fresh water. Aquaculturecenters, in certain embodiments, are adapted to have organismscultivated therein that are adapted to live in salt water. Suchaquaculture centers are referred to herein as “salt water aquaculturecenters”. Aquaculture centers, in certain embodiments, are be adapted tohave organisms cultivated therein that are adapted to live in freshwater. Such aquaculture centers are referred to herein as “fresh wateraquaculture centers”. Aquaculture centers, in various aspects, may beboth “salt water aquaculture centers” and “fresh water aquaculturecenters”.

Aquaculture centers, in various embodiments, include one or more tanksor containers for holding one or more aquatic organisms or types oforganisms and water. Such tanks may be operably connected (e.g., influid communication) to one another and/or to components for controllingconditions therein. Such tanks may also be operably connected to a watersource (e.g., a warm water discharge of a water cooling subsystem of adata center) such that water may move into the tanks from the watersource. In particular aspects, tanks in aquaculture centers and watertherein may be separated from a water source in such a manner thataquatic organisms are prevented from moving from the tanks into thewater source and/or from the water source into the tanks. As such,aquaculture centers may be located inland (e.g., have one or more tanksconstructed on a body of land that is not located under a depth ofwater) from a body of water such as an ocean or sea.

In various embodiments, aquaculture centers are “recirculatingaquaculture systems” (RAS). RAS systems recycle water therein bycirculating it through filters to remove waste (e.g., fish waste and/orfood) and then recirculate the water back into tanks in which aquaticorganisms are cultivated.

As noted above, in various embodiments, aquaculture centers housecomponents configured to control conditions important to the cultivationof aquatic organisms. Conditions important to the cultivation of aquaticorganisms include, for example, water temperature, oxygenation,illumination, pH, bacterial concentration in water and/or concentrationof organic waste in water.

In some embodiments, the aquaculture centers described herein includewater temperature control subsystems. The phrases “water temperaturecontrol subsystem” and “water temperature control subsystems”, as usedherein, refer to an interconnected structure located at least partiallywithin an aquaculture center that is configured to heat and/or cool atleast one component or portion (e.g., a tank and/or water therein) ofthe aquaculture center. Where desired, the interconnected structure of awater temperature control subsystem includes one or more components(e.g., pipes and/or containers and/or tanks) configured to carry waterfrom one location (e.g., the location of the intake) to anotherlocation. In certain embodiments, water temperature control subsystemsinclude a water discharge and/or output. The water temperature controlsubsystem, in select instances, may be configured to receive water(e.g., warm water) from a water cooling subsystem of a data centerand/or an ocean and/or sea (e.g., a salt water aquaculture center)and/or river and/or lake (e.g., a fresh water aquaculture center) and/orgroundwater source and/or other water source.

Water temperature control subsystems, in some aspects, may be configuredto maintain one or more water temperatures within an aquaculture center(e.g., a temperature between 12° C. and 18° C.; 18° C. and 24° C.; or24° C. and 33° C.). As such, water temperature control subsystems may beconfigured to heat and/or cool water within aquaculture centers. In someembodiments, water temperature control subsystems include one or moreheating elements for heating water. In some embodiments, watertemperature control subsystems include one or more cooling elements forcooling water.

Water temperature control subsystems, in certain embodiments, includeone or more tanks or compartments within an aquaculture centerconfigured for holding one or more aquatic organisms or types oforganisms and water. In some embodiments, one or more tanks within anaquaculture center are operably coupled to one or more heating elementsfor heating water therein.

As noted above, in certain embodiments, water temperature controlsubsystems include a water discharge and/or water output. In variousinstances, water discharges are operably connected (e.g., attached in awater-tight manner) to desalination plants and/or power plants. In someversions, water discharges are part of the same structure as thecoupling components described herein. Where desired, water dischargesexpel water (e.g., cool water and/or warm water) out of a watertemperature control subsystem and/or into a water source or body ofwater. In select embodiments, water discharges include one or moreopenings through which warm and/or cool water may move (e.g., flow). Incertain embodiments, a water discharge is a pipe and may be made of thesame and/or different materials and/or types of materials as the waterintakes described herein. In certain versions, a water discharge ispositioned inside or outside a portion of the aquaculture center whichcontains one or more tanks wherein aquatic organisms are cultured.

The water temperature control subsystem, in certain embodiments,includes a water intake. In some aspects, the water intake includes oneor more openings (e.g., holes, gaps and/or slits) in the watertemperature control subsystem configured to receive water (e.g., coolwater) into the water temperature control subsystem. For example, thewater intake may be one or more pipes having one or more (i.e., one,two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten or more)openings (e.g., an open end) positioned within a body of water such thatwater may flow into the one or more pipes. In some embodiments, a waterintake or an opening therein is shaped as a circle, rectangle, square,slit, polygon, quadrilateral, oval, semi-circle, or other shape. Inselect instances, a water intake or an opening therein may have a singledefined radius of symmetry. In some versions, a water intake or anopening therein may include radii of curvature lying within a singleplane (e.g., a vertical plane or a horizontal plane).

In certain embodiments, water intakes (e.g., one or more openings inwater intakes) are configured to intake or otherwise have an amount ofwater (e.g., seawater) move through them in a set time period (e.g., aminute or hour or day). For example, water intakes may be configured tointake up to: 500 L/day; 1,000 L/day; 5,000 L/day; 10,000 L/day; 15,000L/day; 20,000 L/day; 25,000 L/day; 30,000 L/day; 35,000 L/day; 40,000L/day; 45,000 L/day; 50,000 L/day; 55,000 L/day; 60,000 L/day; 65,000L/day; 70,000 L/day; 75,000 L/day; 80,000 L/day; 85,000 L/day; 90,000L/day; 95,000 L/day; 100,000 L/day; 150,000 L/day; 200,000 L/day;250,000 L/day; 300,000 L/day; 350,000 L/day; 400,000 L/day; 450,000L/day; 500,000 L/day; 550,000 L/day; 600,000 L/day; 650,000 L/day;700,000 L/day; 750,000 L/day; 800,000 L/day; 850,000 L/day; 900,000L/day; 950,000 L/day; 1 million L/day; 5 million L/day; 10 millionL/day; 20 million L/day; 30 million L/day; 40 million L/day; 50 millionL/day; 60 million L/day; 70 million L/day; 80 million L/day; 90 millionL/day; 100 million L/day; 110 million L/day; 120 million L/day; 130million L/day; 140 million L/day; 150 million L/day; 160 million L/day;170 million L/day; 180 million L/day; 190 million L/day; 200 millionL/day; 220 million L/day; 240 million L/day; 260 million L/day; 280million L/day; 300 million L/day; 400 million L/day; 500 million L/day;or 1 billion L/day. Water intakes may also be configured to intake morethan 1 billion L/day. Water intakes, in particular embodiments, may beconfigured to intake an amount of water in any of the ranges: 5,000L/day to 1 billion L/day; 5,000 L/day to 1 million L/day; 5,000 L/day to100 million L/day; 5,000 L/day to 20,000 L/day; 20,000 L/day to 40,000L/day; 40,000 L/day to 60,000 L/day; 60,000 L/day to 80,000 L/day;80,000 L/day to 100,000 L/day; 100,000 L/day to 120,000 L/day; 120,000L/day to 140,000 L/day; 140,000 L/day to 160,000 L/day; 160,000 L/day to180,000 L/day; 180,000 L/day to 200,000 L/day; 200,000 L/day to 250,000L/day; 250,000 L/day to 300,000 L/day; 3000,000 L/day to 350,000 L/day;100,000 L/day to 200,000 L/day; 200,000 L/day to 300,000 L/day; 300,000L/day to 400,000 L/day; 400,000 L/day to 500,000 L/day; 500,000 L/day to600,000 L/day; 600,000 L/day to 700,000 L/day; 700,000 L/day to 800,000L/day; 800,000 L/day to 900,000 L/day; 900,000 L/day to 1 million L/day;1 million L/day to 20 million L/day; 20 million L/day to 40 millionL/day; 40 million L/day to 60 million L/day; 60 million L/day to 80million L/day; or 80 million L/day to 100 million L/day. In someaspects, intakes are configured such that the amount of water moving(e.g., flowing) through an intake may be variable within a time period(e.g., one minute, one hour, one day, one month, one year).

In some aspects, the water intake or a portion thereof is positionedoutside the portion of the aquaculture center containing one or moretanks wherein one or more aquatic organisms are cultured. For example,in some variations, the water intake is positioned outside the buildinghousing the one or more tanks and/or associated components. Wheredesired, the intake is operably connected to (e.g., in fluidcommunication with) at least one portion of the water cooling subsystem(e.g., a portion located inside the portion a data center wherein coolwater is heated, for instance, to warm water). In some aspects, theintake is configured to receive water (e.g., warm water) from a watercooling subsystem of a data center.

Embodiments of the water temperature control subsystems include a waterintake positioned at a depth of 15 m or more in a water source. Somevariations of the water temperature control subsystems include a waterintake and/or at least one opening therein (e.g., an opening at the endof the intake furthest from the portion of the data center housingcomputer systems and related components) positioned at a depth of 1 m ormore; 2 m or more; 3 m or more; 4 m or more; 5 m or more; 6 m or more; 7m or more; 8 m or more; 9 m or more; 10 m or more; 11 m or more; 12 m ormore; 13 m or more; 14 m or more; 16 m or more; 17 m or more; 18 m ormore; 19 m or more; 20 m or more; 25 m or more; 30 m or more; 35 m ormore; 40 m or more; 45 m or more; 50 m or more; 60 m or more; 70 m ormore; 80 m or more; 90 m or more; 100 m or more; 200 m or more; and/or300 m or more in a water source. In some aspects, water temperaturecontrol subsystems include a water intake and/or at least one openingtherein positioned below and/or within a particular zone (e.g., euphoticand/or disphotic, and/or aphotic zone and/or benthic zone) in a watersource. Water temperature control subsystems, in select versions,include a water intake and/or at least one opening therein positionedbelow the photic zone in a water source.

In certain aspects wherein a water intake is positioned at a particulardepth within a water source (e.g., a depth of 15 m or more), its center(e.g., the center-most point of a water intake) and/or the top edge(e.g., the edge or portion closest to the surface of the water) of thewater intake and/or the bottom edge (e.g., the edge or portion furthestfrom the surface of the water) of the water intake is positioned at thatparticular depth below the surface of the water. In certain instances, awater intake positioned at a particular depth within a water source mayhave an opening wherein the center of the opening (e.g., the center-mostpoint of a circular and/or square opening) and/or the top edge (e.g.,the edge or portion closest to the surface of the water) of the openingand/or the bottom edge (e.g., the edge or portion furthest from thesurface of the water) of the opening is positioned at that particulardepth below the surface of the water.

Embodiments of aquaculture centers, and in some embodiments, watertemperature control subsystems, and in certain versions water intakes,include one or more filters configured for purifying water (e.g.,removing organic contaminates therefrom and/or providing water having asufficient purity to encourage proliferation of aquatic organismstherein). In select instances, at least one filter is located at one ormore openings in the intake and/or at the end of the intake furthestfrom the portion of the aquaculture center housing the one or more tankswherein aquatic organisms are cultured. In some aspects, water in thewater temperature control subsystems is circulated (e.g., circulatedrepeatedly) through at least one filter to provide healthy livingconditions for aquatic organisms therein (e.g., to provide conditions tomaximize the proliferation of aquatic organisms therein).

Water temperature control subsystems and/or water intakes thereof may,in various aspects, be composed of one or more materials or one or moretypes of materials. Examples of materials that the water temperaturecontrol subsystems of the disclosed systems may be composed of includepolymers, ceramics, metals, glasses and/or a combination thereof. Insome instances, the water temperature control subsystems are notcomposed of metal or material that is subject to corrosion (e.g.,corrosion by rust). In some embodiments, water temperature controlsubsystems are composed of plumbing materials. For example, watertemperature control subsystems may be composed of polyvinyl chloride(PVC) pipes and/or joints and one or more adhesives for fastening thepipes in a water-tight manner. Where appropriate, one or more materialsof the water temperature control subsystems may be rigid. In someaspects, one or more materials of the water temperature controlsubsystems may be flexible (e.g., one or more rubber tubes or hoses).However, these examples of materials are not limiting and the materialsof the water temperature control subsystems may be any material, orcombination of materials, having the structural and chemical propertiesnecessary to function in the disclosed systems as described herein.

The water temperature control subsystem, in various instances, includesa pump. In some embodiments, a pump is a means for causing water to movethrough water temperature control subsystems and/or other components(e.g., water intakes; water discharges and/or desalination plants), asdescribed herein. In select variations, a pump causes water to moveunidirectionally or bidirectionally through water temperature controlsubsystems and/or other components (e.g., water intakes; waterdischarges and/or desalination plants), as described herein. In someinstances, a pump is electrically powered and/or fossil fuel poweredand/or powered by another means. In certain aspects, a pump is operablyconnected to a power source (i.e., the power source of the aquaculturecenter), as described herein. In some aspects, a pump may be operablyconnected to a power plant. In particular versions, tides, and/or a pumppowered by tides, cause water to move through the water temperaturecontrol subsystems and/or other components (i.e., desalination plants)described herein. In some embodiments, one or more pumps are locatedwithin data centers/and or aquaculture centers and/or desalinationplants, as described herein. In select embodiments, one or more pumpsare located outside data centers and/or aquaculture centers and/ordesalination plants, as described herein.

In particular aspects, water temperature control subsystems include oneor more valves within the subsystems for controlling the movement ofwater and/or aquatic organisms through the system. In some embodiments,the valves are controllable (e.g., configured to be opened and/or closedin reaction to a designated signal or action). Where desired, each valveis individually controllable (e.g., a valve may be opened and or closedwhile other valves are not). In select embodiments, the one or morevalves include electrical components and may be configured to receive anelectronic signal from a controller operably connected thereto.

In some instances, aquaculture centers and/or the components therein(e.g., a heating element) are electrically powered. For example, certainembodiments of aquaculture centers consume electricity to operate.Embodiments of aquaculture centers are operably connected to at leastone power source (e.g., one or more power plants, as described herein).Certain versions of data centers include a power source (e.g., a sourcefrom which electrical power may be obtained). Power sources, in someembodiments, generate or obtain power from renewable energy sources.Renewable energy sources include, for example, one or more systems ordevices configured to convert one or more forms of energy (e.g., solar,wind, wave, biofuel, biomass, tidal and/or geothermal energy) to anotherform (e.g., electric power). For example, a power source may be one ormore solar panels.

In certain embodiments, aquaculture centers use an amount of energy foreach function performed (e.g., each volume of water heated) by theaquaculture center or components thereof. For example, aquaculturecenters or systems including aquaculture centers and other facilities(e.g., data centers) may use a specific amount of energy per volume ofaquatic organisms cultured. As such, in some aspects, aquaculturecenters or systems including aquaculture centers and other facilities(e.g., data centers) have a degree of energy efficiency that may bequantified. In some aspects, the degree of energy efficiency ofaquaculture centers or systems including aquaculture centers and otherfacilities (e.g., data centers) is improved (i.e., the system uses lessoverall energy) by co-locating an aquaculture center with other systemsdescribed herein (e.g., a desalination plant and/or a power plant and/ora data center).

In some embodiments, aquaculture centers and/or power sources ofaquaculture centers produce carbon emissions. In certain aspects,aquaculture centers (e.g., aquaculture centers operating independently)produce an amount of carbon emissions for each function or portion of afunction performed by the aquaculture center or components thereof. Invarious aspects, systems including aquaculture centers and otherfacilities (e.g., data centers) produce fewer carbon emissions than thesame aquaculture center and other facility (e.g., data center) operatingindependently (e.g., not operably connected).

As noted above, in various aspects of the disclosed systems, aquaculturecenters may be operably coupled (e.g., placed in fluid communicationwith) to data centers. As such, in particular aspects, aquaculturecenters may be configured to receive warm water from data centers asdescribed herein. In such embodiments of aquaculture centers, waterreceived into an aquaculture center (e.g., a salt water aquaculturecenter) from a data center may be directed to flow into tanks whereinaquatic organisms are cultured. In such embodiments, water flowing intoan intake of an aquaculture center is warm water from a data center.

Embodiments of the disclosed systems, including aquaculture centersoperably coupled (e.g., placed in fluid communication with) to datacenters such that warm water may flow from a data center to anaquaculture center, are more energy efficient (e.g., use less energy)and/or produce fewer carbon emissions that the same desalination plantand data center operating independently.

Water Discharge

In some embodiments, the disclosed systems include a water discharge. Invarious aspects, the water discharge is configured for discharging brinefrom the disclosed systems. Where appropriate, the water dischargeincludes one or more openings (e.g., holes, gaps and/or slits) in theportions of the system configured for transporting water and/or brine.For example, the water discharge may be one or more pipes having atleast one opening (e.g., an open end) positioned within a body of watersuch that water and/or brine may flow out of the one or more pipes. Insome variations, a water discharge or an opening therein is shaped as acircle, rectangle, square, slit, polygon, quadrilateral, oval,semi-circle, or other shape. In some instances, the water dischargeincludes a diffuser or analogous structure. Where desired, a waterdischarge or an opening therein may have a single defined radius ofsymmetry. In some aspects, a water discharge or an opening therein mayhave radii of curvature lying within a single plane (e.g., a verticalplane or a horizontal plane).

In certain embodiments, water discharges (e.g., one or more openings inwater discharges) are configured to discharge or otherwise have anamount of water (e.g., seawater) move through them in a set time period(e.g., a minute or hour or day). For example, water discharges may beconfigured to discharge up to: 5,000 L/day; 10,000 L/day; 15,000 L/day;20,000 L/day; 25,000 L/day; 30,000 L/day; 35,000 L/day; 40,000 L/day;45,000 L/day; 50,000 L/day; 55,000 L/day; 60,000 L/day; 65,000 L/day;70,000 L/day; 75,000 L/day; 80,000 L/day; 85,000 L/day; 90,000 L/day;95,000 L/day; 100,000 L/day; 150,000 L/day; 200,000 L/day; 250,000L/day; 300,000 L/day; 350,000 L/day; 400,000 L/day; 450,000 L/day;500,000 L/day; 550,000 L/day; 600,000 L/day; 650,000 L/day; 700,000L/day; 750,000 L/day; 800,000 L/day; 850,000 L/day; 900,000 L/day;950,000 L/day; 1 million L/day; 5 million L/day; 10 million L/day; 20million L/day; 30 million L/day; 40 million L/day; 50 million L/day; 60million L/day; 70 million L/day; 80 million L/day; 90 million L/day; 100million L/day; 110 million L/day; 120 million L/day; 130 million L/day;140 million L/day; 150 million L/day; 160 million L/day; 170 millionL/day; 180 million L/day; 190 million L/day; 200 million L/day; 220million L/day; 240 million L/day; 260 million L/day; 280 million L/day;300 million L/day; 400 million L/day; 500 million L/day; or 1 billionL/day. Water discharges may also be configured to discharge more than 1billion L/day. Water discharges, in particular embodiments, may beconfigured to discharge an amount of water in any of the ranges: 5,000L/day to 1 billion L/day; 5,000 L/day to 1 million L/day; 5,000 L/day to100 million L/day; 5,000 L/day to 20,000 L/day; 20,000 L/day to 40,000L/day; 40,000 L/day to 60,000 L/day; 60,000 L/day to 80,000 L/day;80,000 L/day to 100,000 L/day; 100,000 L/day to 120,000 L/day; 120,000L/day to 140,000 L/day; 140,000 L/day to 160,000 L/day; 160,000 L/day to180,000 L/day; 180,000 L/day to 200,000 L/day; 200,000 L/day to 250,000L/day; 250,000 L/day to 300,000 L/day; 3000,000 L/day to 350,000 L/day;100,000 L/day to 200,000 L/day; 200,000 L/day to 300,000 L/day; 300,000L/day to 400,000 L/day; 400,000 L/day to 500,000 L/day; 500,000 L/day to600,000 L/day; 600,000 L/day to 700,000 L/day; 700,000 L/day to 800,000L/day; 800,000 L/day to 900,000 L/day; 900,000 L/day to 1 million L/day;1 million L/day to 20 million L/day; 20 million L/day to 40 millionL/day; 40 million L/day to 60 million L/day; 60 million L/day to 80million L/day; or 80 million L/day to 100 million L/day. In someaspects, the amount of water moving (e.g., flowing) through a dischargeis variable within a time period (e.g., one minute, one hour, one day,one month, one year).

In various aspects, the water discharge or a portion thereof ispositioned outside the aquaculture center. In certain aspects, the waterdischarge or a portion thereof is operably coupled to an aquaculturecenter (e.g., a fresh water aquaculture center). In some instances, thewater discharge or a portion thereof is positioned outside the portionof an aquaculture center containing tanks for cultivating aquaticorganisms therein and/or the data center containing the one or morecomputer systems and/or associated components and/or outside thedesalination plant. In some embodiments, the water discharge is operablyconnected to (e.g., in fluid communication with) at least one portionthe water temperature control subsystem located inside the portion of anaquaculture center containing tanks for cultivating aquatic organismstherein (e.g., a portion of the aquaculture center wherein water isheated and/or cooled and/or maintained at a particular temperature)and/or a water cooling subsystem located inside the portion of the datacenter containing the one or more computer systems and/or associatedcomponents wherein cool water is heated (e.g., heated to warm water).

Embodiments of the systems include a water discharge positioned within awater source (e.g., positioned at a depth of 15 m or more in a watersource). Some variations of the systems include a water discharge and/orat least one opening therein (e.g., an opening at the end of thedischarge furthest from the portion of an aquaculture center containingtanks for cultivating aquatic organisms therein and/or portion of thedata center housing computer systems and related components) positionedat a depth of 1 m or more; 2 m or more; 3 m or more; 4 m or more; 5 m ormore; 6 m or more; 7 m or more; 8 m or more; 9 m or more; 10 m or more;11 m or more; 12 m or more; 13 m or more; 14 m or more; 16 m or more; 17m or more; 18 m or more; 19 m or more; 20 m or more; 25 m or more; 30 mor more; 35 m or more; 40 m or more; 45 m or more; 50 m or more; 60 m ormore; 70 m or more; 80 m or more; 90 m or more; 100 m; 200 m or moreand/or 300 m or more in a water source. In some aspects, systems includea water discharge and/or at least one opening therein positioned belowand/or within a particular zone (e.g., euphotic and/or disphotic, and/oraphotic zone) in a water source. Systems, in some embodiments, include awater discharge and/or at least one opening therein positioned below thephotic zone in a water source.

In certain variations of the disclosed systems wherein a water dischargeis positioned at a particular depth within a water source (e.g., a depthof 15 m or more), its center (e.g., the center-most point of a waterdischarge) and/or the top edge (e.g., the edge or portion closest to thesurface of the water) of the water discharge and/or the bottom edge(e.g., the edge or portion furthest from the surface of the water) ofthe water discharge is positioned at that particular depth below thesurface of the water. In certain aspects, a water discharge positionedat a particular depth within a water source may have an opening whereinthe center of the opening (e.g., the center-most point of a circularand/or square opening) and/or the top edge (e.g., the edge or portionclosest to the surface of the water) of the opening and/or the bottomedge (e.g., the edge or portion furthest from the surface of the water)of the opening is positioned at that particular depth below the surfaceof the water.

The water discharges of the disclosed systems may, in various aspects,be composed of one or more materials or one or more types of materials.Examples of materials that the water discharges of the disclosed systemsmay be composed of include polymers, ceramics, metals, glasses and/or acombination thereof. In some aspects, the water discharges are notcomposed of metal or material that is subject to corrosion (e.g.,corrosion by rust). Where appropriate, water discharges are composed ofplumbing materials. For example, water discharges may be composed ofpolyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes and/or joints and one or more adhesivesfor fastening the pipes in a water-tight manner. In select aspects, oneor more materials of the water discharges may be rigid. In someinstances, one or more materials of the water discharges may be flexible(e.g., one or more rubber tubes or hoses). However, these examples ofmaterials are not limiting and the materials of the water discharges maybe any material, or combination of materials, having the structural andchemical properties necessary to function in the disclosed systems asdescribed herein.

Power Plant

In certain aspects, the disclosed systems optionally include one or morepower plants. As used herein, the terms “power plant” and “powerstation”, refer to a facility for the generation of electric power. Inparticular aspects, power plants house components for generating andtransmitting electric power.

Power plants, in select embodiments, generate electrical power fromfossil fuels (e.g., coal, oil, and/or natural gas), nuclear power orrenewable energy sources. In certain aspects, power plants provideelectric power to consumers of electric power outside the power plant.

In various instances, power plants include an intake for receivingmaterials and/or energy into the power plant. In some aspects, powerplants include at least one conversion element for converting thematerials and/or energy received into the intake to electric power. Inselect instances, power plants include an electrical yield componentconfigured for providing an output of electrical power from the plant.In various embodiments, power plants include one or more control systemsconfigured for controlling the amount of materials and/or energyreceived into an intake and/or for controlling the amount of materialsand/or energy converted to electric power and/or for controlling theamount of electric power output through the electrical yield component.

Power plants, in particular versions, produce carbon emissions. Incertain instances, power plants (e.g., power plants operating to produceelectric power independently) produce an amount of carbon emissions foreach function or portion of a function performed by the power plant orcomponents thereof. For example, in some embodiments, power plantsproduce a certain amount of carbon emissions per amount of electricalpower produced.

In some embodiments, power plants include electrical components. Forexample, power plants may include temperature and/or lighting controlsystems as well as electrical components for electrically connectingconsumers of electrical power to the power plant. In select instances,power plants (e.g., power plants operating independently) use an amountof energy (e.g., electrical energy) for each amount of electrical powerproduced.

Certain variations of power plants produce heat. As such, in someembodiments, power plants include a cooling system. In some instances,cooling systems of power plants are configured to cool power plantsusing cool water (e.g., seawater). In certain embodiments, power plantcooling systems include an interconnected structure of pipes and/orcontainers and/or pumps (e.g., pumps as described above) configured formoving water through (e.g., in to and/or out of) the interconnectedstructure and thereby cooling the power plant. In select versions, powerplants produce and output warm water. In certain aspects, power plantcooling systems are operably connected to water discharges (e.g., warmwater discharges), as described herein. In certain aspects, power plantcooling systems are operably connected (e.g., in fluid communicationwith) aquaculture centers, as described herein.

In particular embodiments, power plants are co-located with aquaculturecenters and/or data centers. Power plants, in certain aspects, areoperably connected to an aquaculture center and/or a data center. Insome aspects, power plants may be in fluid communication with anaquaculture centers and/or a data center. In some versions, power plantcooling systems may be attached to a water temperature control subsystemof an aquaculture center and/or a water cooling subsystem of a datacenter such that water may move (e.g., flow) from a power plant to anaquaculture center and/or a data center and/or from an aquaculturecenter and/or a data center to a power plant.

Various embodiments of power plants provide electrical power toaquaculture centers and/or data centers (e.g. aquaculture centers and/ordata centers co-located with power plants and/or desalination plants).As such, certain versions of the disclosed systems include power plantsthat are electrically connected (e.g., connected by at least oneconductive material, such as a metal cable) to an aquaculture centerand/or a data center. In certain aspects, power plants may provide allor a portion of the electrical power required to operate an aquaculturecenter and/or a data center and/or the electrical components therein.

Certain embodiments of the disclosed systems that include a power plantco-located with an aquaculture center and/or a data center areconfigured to produce fewer carbon emissions as compared to the samepower plant, aquaculture center and/or data center operatingindependently (e.g., an aquaculture center and/or a power plant, datacenter not connected in a manner such that water and/or electricity maytravel from one to the other). Also, some variations of the disclosedsystems that include a power plant co-located with an aquaculture centerand/or a data center are configured to use less energy (e.g., electricalenergy) as compared to the same power plant, aquaculture center and/ordata center operating independently (e.g., an aquaculture center and/ora power plant, data center not connected in a manner such that waterand/or electricity may travel from one to the other). As such, selectversions of the disclosed systems that include a power plant co-locatedwith an aquaculture center and/or a data center are configured to bemore energy-efficient than the same power plant, aquaculture centerand/or data center operating independently.

Water Desalination Plant

The disclosed systems, in certain instances, optionally include one ormore desalination plants. As used herein, the term “desalination plant”refers to a facility configured and/or used for desalinating water. Insome embodiments, desalination plants house components for desalinatingwater.

In some variations, desalination plants operate by distillation (e.g.,vacuum distillation). Desalination plants may be configured to boilwater (e.g., salt water) and collect water (e.g., water vapor) having asignificantly reduced or eliminated salt concentration. Desalinationplants, in select aspects, boil water at less than atmospheric pressure.In some versions, desalination plants operate by multistage flashdistillation. As such, desalination plants may be configured to operateby one or more processes that distill water (e.g., seawater) by flashingan amount of water into steam in multiple stages of concurrent heatexchangers. In particular instances, desalination plants usingdistillation (e.g., vacuum distillation) employ heated water (e.g., warmwater) in one or more processes. Certain variations of desalinationplants are configured to desalinate water by using both distillation andreverse osmosis processes.

In certain embodiments, desalination plants of the disclosed systems arereverse osmosis desalination plants. In some aspects, reverse osmosisdesalination plants use pressure and/or one or more semipermeablemembranes to desalinate water. In certain versions of reverse osmosisdesalination plants, water is passed through one or more semipermeablemembranes in order to remove salt and/or minerals and/or otherimpurities therefrom. In some instances, the efficiency of adesalination process of a reverse osmosis desalination plant is higherif the temperature of the water input (e.g., salt water) into thedesalination process is higher. In various embodiments, a desalinationprocess of a reverse osmosis desalination plant uses less energy pervolume of water desalinated if the temperature of the water input (e.g.,salt water) into the desalination process is higher.

By desalinating water, in some aspects, desalination plants may producedesalinated water and/or brine (e.g., both desalinated water and brine).As used herein, the term “brine” refers to a solution discharged from adesalination plant. In select aspects, brine may be a solution (e.g., aconcentrate) including salt (e.g., sodium chloride) and water. In selectversions, brine has a salt concentration in the range 3.5% to 26% or 5%to 26%. In certain embodiments, brine includes one or more of theimpurities removed from water during desalination (e.g., minerals orother components). In some instances, brine may include residues ofchemicals used to treat (e.g., clean) a desalination plant.

Embodiments of desalination plants include at least one filterconfigured for purifying water. In some aspects, the at least one filterof the water intakes includes one or more semipermeable membranes.

In some instances, desalination plants are configured such that anamount of water may move through the plants. In select embodiments,desalination plants are configured such that an amount of water may movethrough the plants by traveling through an interconnected desalinationstructure of operably connected pipes and/or containers. Theinterconnected desalination structure of operably connected pipes and/orcontainers, in select variations, is composed of the same and/ordifferent materials or types of materials as the water temperaturecontrol systems and/or water cooling subsystems and/or water intakesdescribed herein. In particular embodiments, the interconnecteddesalination structure of operably connected pipes and/or containers ofa desalination plant is connected to and/or includes a couplingcomponent for receiving water from a water source and/or a waterdischarge for discharging water from the desalination plant.

In particular versions, desalination plants include one or more valvesfor controlling the movement of water through the desalination plant(e.g., through an interconnected desalination structure of operablyconnected pipes and/or containers within a desalination plant). In someembodiments, the valves are controllable (e.g., configured to be openedand/or closed in reaction to a designated signal or action). In someaspects each valve is individually controllable (e.g., a valve may beopened and or closed while other valves are not). In select instances,the one or more valves include electrical components and may beconfigured to receive an electronic signal from a controller operablyconnected thereto.

In various aspects, a desalination plant is configured such that watercan move (i.e., flow) into the plant from a water source (e.g., a watertemperature control subsystem and/or a water cooling subsystem). In someembodiments, the water source of a water desalination plant is the watertemperature control subsystem of an aquaculture center (e.g., aco-located aquaculture center). In some embodiments, the water source ofa water desalination plant is the water cooling subsystem of a datacenter (e.g., a co-located data center). As such, where desired, waterdesalination plants may be configured to receive warm water from watertemperature control subsystems or water cooling subsystems or a portionthereof (e.g., a warm water discharge or output) and/or another source(e.g., a power plant). In some embodiments, water desalination plantsare configured such that warm water received into a desalination plantis used in one or more water desalination processes therein.

In certain versions, desalination plants include one or more couplingcomponents. Coupling components may be configured for connecting to andreceiving water from a water temperature control subsystem or a watercooling subsystem. In some aspects, one or more coupling components arepositioned within a desalination plant and/or within an aquaculturecenter and/or between a desalination plant and an aquaculture center(e.g., at the interface of a desalination and aquaculture center). Inselect instances, the one or one or more coupling components are a pipeor a series of pipes for providing fluid communication between thedesalination plant and aquaculture center. In some embodiments, the oneor more coupling components are operably connected (e.g., attached in awater-tight manner) to a warm water discharge or output of anaquaculture center. The one or more coupling components may be operablyconnected to a water intake (e.g., a cool water intake), as describedherein. As such, water (e.g., cool water) may be added to the water(e.g., warm water) passing out of a water temperature control subsystemof an aquaculture center or the water cooling subsystem of a data centerbefore it enters a desalination plant. The one or more couplingcomponents may be operably connected to a water discharge (e.g., a warmwater discharge), as described herein. As such, all or a portion of thewater channeled to flow through the coupling component may be channeledto flow into a water source and all or a portion of the water channeledto flow through the coupling component may be channeled to flow into thewater desalination plant. The one or more coupling components may alsobe operably connected to one or more other coupling components.

In certain embodiments, coupling components are configured to have anamount of water (e.g., seawater) move (e.g., flow) through them per timeperiod (e.g, minute or hour or day). For example, coupling componentsmay be configured to have up to the following amounts of water move(e.g., flow) through them: 500 L/day; 1,000 L/day; 5,000 L/day; 10,000L/day; 15,000 L/day; 20,000 L/day; 25,000 L/day; 30,000 L/day; 35,000L/day; 40,000 L/day; 45,000 L/day; 50,000 L/day; 55,000 L/day; 60,000L/day; 65,000 L/day; 70,000 L/day; 75,000 L/day; 80,000 L/day; 85,000L/day; 90,000 L/day; 95,000 L/day; 100,000 L/day; 150,000 L/day; 200,000L/day; 250,000 L/day; 300,000 L/day; 350,000 L/day; 400,000 L/day;450,000 L/day; 500,000 L/day; 550,000 L/day; 600,000 L/day; 650,000L/day; 700,000 L/day; 750,000 L/day; 800,000 L/day; 850,000 L/day;900,000 L/day; 950,000 L/day; 1 million L/day; 5 million L/day; 10million L/day; 20 million L/day; 30 million L/day; 40 million L/day; 50million L/day; 60 million L/day; 70 million L/day; 80 million L/day; 90million L/day; 100 million L/day; 110 million L/day; 120 million L/day;130 million L/day; 140 million L/day; 150 million L/day; 160 millionL/day; 170 million L/day; 180 million L/day; 190 million L/day; 200million L/day; 220 million L/day; 240 million L/day; 260 million L/day;280 million L/day; 300 million L/day; 400 million L/day; 500 millionL/day; or 1 billion L/day. Coupling components may also be configured tohave more than 1 billion L/day of water move (e.g., flow) through them.Coupling components, in particular embodiments, may be configured tohave an amount of water move through them wherein the amount is in anyof the ranges: 5,000 L/day to 1 billion L/day; 5,000 L/day to 1 millionL/day; 5,000 L/day to 100 million L/day; 5,000 L/day to 20,000 L/day;20,000 L/day to 40,000 L/day; 40,000 L/day to 60,000 L/day; 60,000 L/dayto 80,000 L/day; 80,000 L/day to 100,000 L/day; 100,000 L/day to 120,000L/day; 120,000 L/day to 140,000 L/day; 140,000 L/day to 160,000 L/day;160,000 L/day to 180,000 L/day; 180,000 L/day to 200,000 L/day; 200,000L/day to 250,000 L/day; 250,000 L/day to 300,000 L/day; 3000,000 L/dayto 350,000 L/day; 100,000 L/day to 200,000 L/day; 200,000 L/day to300,000 L/day; 300,000 L/day to 400,000 L/day; 400,000 L/day to 500,000L/day; 500,000 L/day to 600,000 L/day; 600,000 L/day to 700,000 L/day;700,000 L/day to 800,000 L/day; 800,000 L/day to 900,000 L/day; 900,000L/day to 1 million L/day; 1 million L/day to 20 million L/day; 20million L/day to 40 million L/day; 40 million L/day to 60 million L/day;60 million L/day to 80 million L/day; or 80 million L/day to 100 millionL/day. In some aspects, the amount of water moving (e.g., flowing)through a coupling component is variable within a time period (e.g., oneminute, one hour, one day, one month, one year).

A desalination plant, in some embodiments, is configured such that brinemoves (i.e., flows) out of the desalination plant through a waterdischarge. In certain instances, desalination plants are operablyconnected to (e.g., in fluid communication with) water discharges, asdescribed herein. In some versions, desalination plants are configuredsuch that water flows out of the desalination plant (e.g., through awater discharge) and into an aquaculture center (e.g., a fresh wateraquaculture center).

A desalination plant, in various aspects, is configured such thatdesalinated (e.g., water having a low salt concentration) moves out ofthe desalination plant through a water expulsion aspect. The waterexpulsion aspect may be one or more pipes. The water expulsion aspectmay also be configured to transport the desalinated water to a locationwhere the desalinated water may be used and/or stored. The waterexpulsion aspect may, in certain aspects, also be configured totransport the desalinated water to a location from which the desalinatedwater can be further transported.

In some embodiments, the water expulsion aspect is operably coupled toan aquaculture center. In some aspects, water moving out of thedesalination plant through a water expulsion aspect may be used in anaquaculture center (e.g., a fresh water aquaculture center).

Desalination plants, in certain versions, include a pump. In someembodiments, a pump is a means for causing water to move throughdesalination plants and/or other components (e.g., aquaculture centers;water temperature control subsystems; data centers; water coolingsubsystems; water intakes; and/or water discharges), as describedherein. In particular instances, a pump causes water to moveunidirectionally or bidirectionally through desalination plants and/orother components, as described herein. In some embodiments, a pump iselectrically powered and/or gasoline powered and/or powered by anothermeans. In certain aspects, a pump is operably connected to a powersource (i.e., the power source of the aquaculture center), as describedherein. In some instances, a pump may be operably connected to a powerplant. In particular embodiments, tides, and/or a pump powered by tides,cause water to move through the desalination plants and/or othercomponents (e.g., aquaculture centers) described herein. In someembodiments, one or more pumps are located within aquaculture centersand/or desalination plants, as described herein. In select versions, oneor more pumps are located outside aquaculture centers and/ordesalination plants, as described herein.

Where desired, desalination plants include electrical components. Forexample, desalination plants may include temperature and/or lightingcontrol systems as well as electrical systems for desalinating water. Incertain aspects, desalination plants (e.g., desalination plantsoperating independently) use an amount of energy (e.g., electricalenergy) for each volume of water desalinated.

As such, desalination plants may be operably connected to at least onepower source (e.g., one or more power plants and/or the power source ofa data center, as described herein). Certain embodiments of desalinationplants include a power source (e.g., a source from which electricalpower may be obtained). Power sources, where appropriate, and asdescribed above, generate or obtain power from renewable energy sources.In certain aspects, desalination plants may be operably connected (e.g.,electrically connected) to an aquaculture center or one or more of thecomponents thereof.

In select versions, desalination plants and/or power sources ofdesalination plants produce carbon emissions. In certain aspects,desalination plants (e.g., desalination plants operating independently)produce an amount of carbon emissions for each function or portion of afunction performed by the desalination plant or components thereof. Forexample, in some embodiments, desalination plants produce a certainamount of carbon emissions per volume of desalinated water produced.

The disclosed systems, in certain instances, include one or moredesalination plants co-located with one or more aquaculture centers. Asnoted above, certain embodiments of the disclosed systems includedesalination plants that are configured to receive and desalinate warmwater output from an aquaculture center (e.g., a co-located aquaculturecenter). Certain variations of the disclosed systems that includedesalination plants configured to receive and desalinate warm wateroutput from an aquaculture center are thereby configured to producefewer carbon emissions as compared to the same aquaculture center andwater desalination plant operating independently (e.g., an aquaculturecenter and water desalination plant not connected in a manner such thatwater or electricity may travel from one to the other). Also, in someinstances, the disclosed systems include desalination plants that areconfigured to receive and desalinate warm water output from anaquaculture center and are thereby configured to use less energy (e.g.,electrical energy) as compared to the same aquaculture center and waterdesalination plant operating independently (e.g., an aquaculture centerand water desalination plant not connected in a manner such that wateror electricity may travel from one to the other).

Methods

As summarized above, aspects of the present disclosure also includemethods for cooling a heat source, e.g., as described above (such as adata center) and cultivating aquatic organisms. In certain instances,the methods have steps (e.g., sequential steps and/or simultaneoussteps) including (1) cooling a data center with a water coolingsubsystem comprising a cool water intake and a warm water discharge; and(2) cultivating aquatic organisms with an aquaculture center co-locatedwith the data center and comprising a water temperature controlsubsystem comprising a warm water intake for receiving water from thewarm water discharge.

As used herein, the word “cultivating” refers to culturing and/orhatching and/or breeding and/or rearing and/or growing organisms (e.g.,aquatic organisms).

The word “cooling” is used broadly and generically to refer to loweringthe temperature of an aspect (e.g., a data center and/or an aquaculturecenter or a portion of one or more components therein) or a portion ofan aspect (e.g., a portion of a data center that is heated by one ormore components). Likewise, the word “heating” is used broadly andgenerically to refer to increasing the temperature of an aspect (e.g.,an aquaculture center or a portion of one or more components thereinand/or water therein) or a portion of an aspect (e.g., a portion of anaquaculture center and/or a volume of water therein).

As such, in some embodiments, cooling a data center with a water coolingsubsystem includes decreasing the temperature of at least a portion ofthe data center or one or more components of the data center (e.g., acomputer system thereof).

As used herein, the phrase “cool water intake” refers to a water intakeconfigured to receive cool water. In some embodiments, cooling a datacenter with a water cooling subsystem includes moving (e.g.,intermittently or continually pumping) water (e.g., cool water) throughat least a portion of the water cooling subsystem.

In some instances of the disclosed methods, cooling a data center andcultivating aquatic organisms includes obtaining (e.g., intermittentlyor constantly pumping) water (e.g., seawater) from a cool water intake.Variations of the disclosed methods include positioning a cool waterintake, or at least one opening therein, at a particular depth within awater source (e.g., below the photic zone of a water source). In someaspects of the disclosed methods, a water source is an ocean or sea.

Particular aspects of the disclosed methods include receiving water(e.g., warm water) into a water temperature control subsystem from awater cooling subsystem of a data center. As such, various aspects ofthe disclosed methods include moving (e.g., pumping water (e.g., warmwater from a water cooling subsystem into a water temperature controlsubsystem (e.g., a water temperature control subsystem operativelycoupled to the water temperature control subsystem.

In certain aspects of the disclosed methods, the methods includedischarging (e.g., intermittently or constantly pumping) brine from adesalination plant into a body of water (e.g., an ocean or sea).Particular versions of the disclosed methods include discharging brineat a particular depth within a body of water (e.g., within or below thephotic zone of an ocean or sea).

Embodiments of the disclosed methods include positioning a cool waterintake or at least one opening therein and/or discharging brine at adepth of 15 m or more in a water source. Some variations of the methodsinclude positioning a cool water intake or at least one opening thereinand/or discharging brine at a depth of 1 m or more; 2 m or more; 3 m ormore; 4 m or more; 5 m or more; 6 m or more; 7 m or more; 8 m or more; 9m or more; 10 m or more; 11 m or more; 12 m or more; 13 m or more; 14 mor more; 16 m or more; 17 m or more; 18 m or more; 19 m or more; 20 m ormore; 25 m or more; 30 m or more; 35 m or more; 40 m or more; 45 m ormore; 50 m or more; 60 m or more; 70 m or more; 80 m or more; 90 m ormore; 100 m or more; 200 m or more; and/or 300 m or more in a body ofwater (e.g., an ocean or sea). In select instances, the disclosedmethods include positioning a cool water intake or at least one openingtherein and/or discharging brine below and/or within a particular zone(e.g., euphotic and/or disphotic, and/or aphotic and/or benthic zone) ina body of water (e.g., an ocean or sea).

In certain variations of the methods, positioning a cool water intake,or at least one opening therein and/or discharging brine, at aparticular depth within a water source (e.g., a depth of 15 m or more),includes positioning the center of the intake (e.g., the center-mostpoint of a water intake) and/or the center of a water discharge (e.g.,the center-most point of a warm water discharge) and/or the top edge(e.g., the edge or portion closest to the surface of the water) of thewater intake and/or water discharge and/or the bottom edge (e.g., theedge or portion furthest from the surface of the water) of the waterintake and/or water discharge at that particular depth below the surfaceof the water. Where desired, a water intake and/or water dischargepositioned at a particular depth within a water source may have anopening wherein the center of the opening (e.g., the center-most pointof a circular and/or square opening) and/or the top edge (e.g., the edgeor portion closest to the surface of the water) of the opening and/orthe bottom edge (e.g., the edge or portion closest to the surface of thewater) of the opening is positioned at that particular depth below thesurface of the water.

As indicated above, some embodiments of the systems further include aco-located desalination plant. In such embodiments, the methods mayfurther include desalinating water. The word “desalinating” is usedbroadly and generically to refer to conducting one or more processes(e.g., reverse osmosis) to desalinate water. As such, in someembodiments, desalinating water includes receiving water (e.g., warmwater) from a water discharge of an aquaculture center and/or a datacenter into a desalination plant (e.g., a desalination plant co-locatedwith the aquaculture center and/or the data center) and conducting oneor more desalination processes to desalinate the water. In someembodiments of the disclosed methods, the methods include co-locatingand/or operably connecting an aquaculture center and/or a data centerand/or a desalination plant.

In particular aspects of the methods, desalinating water includesreceiving water (e.g., warm water) from a water discharge of a datacenter and/or an aquaculture center into a desalination plant (e.g., adesalination plant co-located with the data center and/or aquaculturecenter) and conducting one or more desalination processes to desalinatethe water. In some instances, desalinating water includes moving (e.g.,intermittently or continually pumping) water (e.g., warm water) throughone or more components of a desalination plant and thereby desalinatingthe water.

The desalination plant, in some aspects of the methods, is a reverseosmosis desalination plant. As such, in select instances, water isdesalinated using one or more reverse osmosis processes. In someembodiments, water (e.g., warm water) is desalinated by passing thewater through one or more semipermeable membranes in order to removesalt and/or minerals and/or other impurities therefrom.

As noted above, in some embodiments, aquaculture centers, data centers,desalination plants and/or their power sources produce carbon emissions.In certain aspects, aquaculture centers and/or data centers and/ordesalination plants (e.g., desalination plants operating independently)produce an amount of carbon emissions for each function or portion of afunction performed by the data center and/or desalination plant orcomponents thereof. For example, in some variations, desalination plantsproduce a certain amount of carbon emissions per volume of desalinatedwater produced.

Also, as noted above, co-locating and/or operably connecting a datacenter, and/or an aquaculture center and/or a desalination plant canreduce their overall carbon emissions. As such, in some instances, thedisclosed methods of cultivating aquatic organisms and desalinating saltwater at a desalination plant co-located with the aquaculture centerand/or data center produce fewer carbon emissions as compared tooperating the same aquaculture center, data center and waterdesalination plant independently (e.g., an aquaculture center and datacenter and water desalination plant not connected in a manner such thatwater or electricity may travel from one to the other). In certainvariations, the disclosed methods of cultivating aquatic organisms andcooling a co-located data center include producing a smaller carbonfootprint as compared to the same aquaculture center and data centeroperating independently.

As noted above, in particular instances, data centers and/or aquaculturecenter and/or desalination plants use an amount of energy for eachfunction performed by the data center and/or desalination plant and/oraquaculture center or components thereof. For example, aquaculturecenters may use a specific amount of energy per amount of aquaticorganisms cultured and/or per volume of water heated with the watertemperature control subsystem

Also, as noted above, co-locating and/or operably connecting anaquaculture center and data center can improve their overall energyefficiency. As such, the disclosed methods of cultivating aquaticorganisms and cooling a data center co-located with the aquaculturecenter may use less energy per amount of aquatic organisms culturedand/or per volume of data center cooling as compared to the sameaquaculture center and data center operating independently (e.g., anaquaculture center and data center not connected in a manner such thatwater or electricity may travel from one to the other). In certainversions, the disclosed methods of cultivating aquatic organisms andcooling a data center co-located with the aquaculture center includecultivating aquatic organisms and cooling a data center in a moreenergy-efficient manner as compared to operating the same aquaculturecenter and data center independently.

In certain versions, the disclosed methods include co-locating and/oroperably connecting an aquaculture center, and/or desalination plant,and/or power plant and/or data center. As such, in certain embodiments,the disclosed methods include obtaining power to operate the aquaculturecenter, and/or desalination plant and/or data center from a power plantco-located with the aquaculture center, desalination plant and/or datacenter.

As noted above, in some instances, aquaculture centers, data centers,desalination plants and/or power plants produce carbon emissions. Incertain aspects, power plants (e.g., power plants operating to produceelectric power independently) produce an amount of carbon emissions foreach function or portion of a function performed by the power plant orcomponents thereof. For example, power plants may produce a certainamount of carbon emissions per amount of electrical power produced.

Also, as noted above, co-locating and/or operably connecting anaquaculture center, data center, desalination plant and/or power plantcan reduce their overall carbon emissions. As such, in variousinstances, the disclosed methods including obtaining power to operatethe aquaculture center, and/or the data center and/or the desalinationplant from a power plant co-located with the aquaculture center, and/orthe data center and/or the desalination plant produce fewer carbonemissions as compared to operating the same aquaculture center, and/ordata center, and/or water desalination plant and/or power plantindependently. In some versions, the disclosed methods include producinga smaller carbon footprint as compared to the independent operation ofan aquaculture center, and/or water desalination plant, and/or datacenter and/or power plant.

As noted above, co-locating and/or operably connecting an aquaculturecenter, and/or desalination plant, and/or data center and/or power plantcan improve their overall energy efficiency. As such, in some instances,the disclosed methods that include obtaining power to operate anaquaculture center and desalination plant from a power plant co-locatedwith the aquaculture center and the desalination plant use less energyper amount of aquatic organisms cultured and/or per volume of waterheated with the water temperature control subsystem or per volume ofwater desalinated than the same aquaculture center, water desalinationplant, data center and/or power plant operating independently (e.g.,operating while not operably connected). In some versions, the disclosedmethods of cultivating aquatic organisms and desalinating salt water ata desalination plant co-located with an aquaculture center by obtainingpower to operate the aquaculture center and the desalination plant froma power plant co-located with the aquaculture center and thedesalination plant include cultivating aquatic organisms, desalinatingwater and/or producing or obtaining power in a more energy-efficientmanner as compared to operating the same aquaculture center, waterdesalination plant and power plant independently.

Utility

The subject systems and methods may be used to cultivate aquaticorganisms and/or cool a data center. As described herein, in certainaspects, the disclosed systems may be configured to operate in a waythat is more effective than operating components of the systemsindependently. For example, an aquaculture center co-located with andoperably connected to a data center may allow the aquaculture centerand/or data center to use less energy per amount (e.g., the numberand/or volume and/or weight) of aquatic organisms cultivated and/or peramount of data center-cooling as compared to the same aquaculture centerand data center operating independently. Similarly, the methodsdisclosed herein may allow the operation of an aquaculture center and/ordata center and/or desalination plant to use less energy per amount ofaquatic organisms cultivated and/or per volume of water heated with thewater cooling subsystem and/or per volume of water desalinated ascompared to methods of operating the same aquaculture center, datacenter and water desalination plant independently. Furthermore, thedisclosed systems and methods relating to an aquaculture centerco-located with and operably connected to a desalination plant and/or adata center and a power plant may allow the aquaculture center and/ordesalination plant and/or data center and/or power plant to use lessenergy per amount of aquatic organisms cultivated and/or per volume ofwater heated with the water temperature control subsystem and/or peramount of data center-cooling and/or per volume of water desalinatedand/or per amount of energy produced as compared to the same aquaculturecenter, water desalination plant and/or data center and power plantoperating independently.

The disclosed systems and methods may also operate in such a way as tominimize the impact of aquaculture centers, desalination plants, datacenters and/or power plants on the surrounding environment. For example,operation of the disclosed systems or utilization of the disclosedmethods may result in an aquaculture center and data center that producefewer carbon emissions or less pollution (e.g., thermal pollution) ascompared to the same aquaculture center and data center operatingindependently. Also, operation of the disclosed systems or utilizationof the disclosed methods may result in an aquaculture center, waterdesalination plant, data center and power plant that produce fewercarbon emissions or less pollution (e.g., thermal pollution) as comparedto the same aquaculture center, water desalination plant, data centerand power plant operating independently.

Accordingly, the subject systems and methods may be applied to minimizethe amount of energy used by aquaculture centers, desalination plants,data centers and/or power plants. The subject systems and methods mayalso be applied to minimize the amount of carbon emissions fromaquaculture centers, desalination plants, data centers and/or powerplants. By enhancing efficiency of operation and minimizing carbonemissions, the disclosed systems and methods are useful to minimizecosts associated with aquaculture centers, desalination plants, datacenters and/or power plants and to promote the quality of thesurrounding environments.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are further described by, but notlimited to, the following clauses:

1. A system comprising:

-   -   (a) a heat source comprising a water cooling subsystem        configured to receive cool water and output warm water; and    -   (b) an aquaculture center co-located with heat source and        comprising a water temperature control subsystem configured to        receive the output warm water.        2. The system according to Clause 1, wherein the cool water is        received from an ocean or sea.        3. The system according to Clause 1, wherein the water cooling        subsystem comprises a water intake.        4. The system according to Clause 3, wherein the water intake is        positioned at a depth of 15 m or more in a water source.        5. The system according to Clause 3, wherein the water intake is        positioned below the photic zone in a water source.        6. The system according to any of the preceding clauses, further        comprising a water discharge for discharging water from the        aquaculture center.        7. The system according to Clause 6, wherein the water discharge        is positioned at a depth of 15 m or more in a body of water.        8. The system according to Clause 7, wherein the body of water        is the same body of water from which the water cooling subsystem        receives the cool water.        9. The system according to any of the preceding clauses, further        comprising a power plant co-located with the data center and the        aquaculture center.        10. The system according to Clause 9, wherein the power plant is        operably connected to both of the data center and the        aquaculture center.        11. The system according to any of the preceding clauses,        wherein the heat source and aquaculture center are configured to        produce fewer carbon emissions as compared to the same heat        source and aquaculture center operating independently.        12. The system according to any of the preceding clauses,        wherein the heat source and aquaculture center are configured to        use less energy per amount of heat source cooling and per amount        of aquatic life cultivated as compared to the same heat source        and aquaculture center operating independently.        13. The system according to any of the preceding clauses,        wherein the heat source is a data center.        14. The system according to Clause 13, wherein the data center        has a power usage effectiveness less than 2.        15. The system according to Clause 14, wherein the data center        has a power usage effectiveness ranging from 1 to 1.3.        16. A method of cooling a heat source, the method comprising:    -   (a) cooling the heat source with a water cooling subsystem        comprising a cool water intake and a warm water discharge; and    -   (b) cultivating aquatic organisms with an aquaculture center        co-located with the heat source and comprising a water        temperature control subsystem comprising a warm water intake for        receiving water from the warm water discharge.        17. The method according to Clause 16, wherein the water cooling        subsystem is configured to obtain water from the cool water        intake.        18. The method according to Clause 17, wherein the cool water        intake is positioned below the photic zone of a water source.        19. The method according to Clause 18, wherein the water source        is an ocean or sea.        20. The method according to any of the preceding clauses,        wherein the method produces fewer carbon emissions as compared        to the same heat source and aquaculture center operating        independently.        21. The method according to any of Clauses 16 to 20, wherein the        method uses less energy per amount of heat source cooling and        per amount of aquatic organisms cultivated as compared to the        same heat source and aquaculture center operating independently.        22. The method according to any of Clauses 16 to 21, further        comprising obtaining power to operate the heat source and the        aquaculture center from a power plant co-located with the heat        source and the aquaculture center.        23. The method according to Clause 22, wherein the method        produces fewer carbon emissions than the same heat source,        aquaculture center and power plant operating independently.        24. The method according to Clauses 22 or 23, wherein the method        uses less energy per amount of heat source cooling or per amount        of aquatic organisms cultivated as compared to the same heat        source, aquaculture center and power plant operating        independently.        25. The method according to any of Clauses 16 to 24, wherein the        heat source is a data center.        26. The method according to Clause 25, wherein the method        comprises maintaining the power usage effectiveness of the data        center below 2.        27. The method according to Clause 26, wherein the method        comprises maintaining the power usage effectiveness of the data        center ranging from 1 to 1.3.        28. A system comprising:    -   (a) an aquaculture center comprising a water temperature control        subsystem configured to receive cool water and output warm        water; and    -   (b) a water desalination plant co-located with the aquaculture        center and configured to receive and desalinate the output warm        water.        29. The system according to Clause 28, wherein the cool water is        received from an ocean or sea.        30. The system according to Clause 28, wherein the water        temperature control subsystems comprises a water intake.        31. The system according to Clause 30, wherein the water intake        is positioned at a depth of 15 m or more in a water source.        32. The system according to Clause 30, wherein the water intake        is positioned below the photic zone in a water source.        33. The system according to Clause 28, further comprising a        water discharge for discharging brine from the water        desalination plant.        34. The system according to Clause 33, wherein the water        discharge is positioned at a depth of 15 m or more in a body of        water.        35. The system according to Clause 34, wherein the body of water        is the same body of water from which the water temperature        control subsystems receives the cool water.        36. The system according to Clause 28, further comprising a        power plant co-located with the aquaculture center and the water        desalination plant.        37. The system according to Clause 36, wherein the power plant        is operably connected to both of the aquaculture center and the        water desalination plant.        38. The system according to Clause 28, wherein the aquaculture        center and water desalination plant are configured to produce        fewer carbon emissions as compared to the same aquaculture        center and water desalination plant operating independently.        39. The system according to Clause 36, wherein the aquaculture        center, water desalination plant and power plant are configured        to produce fewer carbon emissions as compared to the same        aquaculture center, water desalination plant and power plant        operating independently.        40. The system according to Clause 28, wherein the aquaculture        center and water desalination plant are configured to use less        energy per volume of water heated with the water temperature        control subsystem and per volume of water desalinated as        compared to the same aquaculture center and water desalination        plant operating independently.        41. The system according to Clause 36, wherein the aquaculture        center, water desalination plant and power plant are configured        to use less energy per amount of volume of water heated with the        water temperature control subsystem and per volume of water        desalinated as compared to the same aquaculture center, water        desalination plant and power plant operating independently.        42. The system according to Clause 28, further comprising a data        center co-located with the aquaculture center and the water        desalination plant.        43. The system according to Clause 42, wherein the data center        is operably connected to both of the aquaculture center and the        water desalination plant.        44. The system according to Clause 42, wherein the aquaculture        center, water desalination plant and data center are configured        to produce fewer carbon emissions as compared to the same        aquaculture center, water desalination plant and data center        operating independently.        45. The system according to Clause 42, wherein the aquaculture        center, water desalination plant and data center are configured        to use less energy per amount of volume of water heated with the        water temperature control subsystem and per volume of water        desalinated as compared to the same data center, water        desalination plant and data center operating independently.        46. The system according to Clause 28, wherein the water        desalination plant is a reverse osmosis desalination plant.        47. The system according to Clause 28, wherein the aquaculture        center is a salt water aquaculture center.        48. A method of cultivating aquatic organisms, the method        comprising:    -   (a) heating water in an aquaculture center with a water        temperature control subsystem comprising a cool water intake and        a warm water discharge; and    -   (b) desalinating warm water received from the warm water        discharge at a desalination plant that is co-located with the        aquaculture center.        49. The method according to Clause 48, wherein the water        temperature control subsystem is configured to obtain seawater        from the cool water intake.        50. The method according to Clause 48, wherein the desalination        plant is a reverse osmosis desalination plant.        51. The method according to Clause 48, wherein the cool water        intake is positioned below the photic zone of a water source.        52. The method according to Clause 51, wherein the water source        is an ocean or sea.        53. The method according to Clause 52, wherein the method        further comprises discharging brine from the desalination plant        into the ocean or sea.        54. The method according to Clause 53, wherein the brine is        discharged below the photic zone of the ocean or sea.        55. The method according to Clause 48, wherein the method        produces fewer carbon emissions as compared to the same        aquaculture center and water desalination plant operating        independently.        56. The method according to Clause 48, wherein the method uses        less energy per volume of water heated with the water        temperature control subsystem and per volume of water        desalinated as compared to the same aquaculture center and water        desalination plant operating independently.        57. The method according to Clause 48, further comprising        obtaining power to operate the aquaculture center and the        desalination plant from a power plant co-located with the        aquaculture center and the desalination plant.        58. The method according to Clause 57, wherein the method        produces fewer carbon emissions than the same aquaculture        center, water desalination plant and power plant operating        independently.        59. The method according to Clause 58, wherein the method uses        less energy per amount of volume of water heated with the water        temperature control subsystem or per volume of water desalinated        than the same aquaculture center, water desalination plant and        power plant operating independently.        60. The method according to Clause 48, wherein the aquaculture        center is a salt water aquaculture center.        61. A system comprising:    -   (a) a water desalination plant configured to receive and        desalinate water; and    -   (b) an aquaculture center co-located with the water desalination        plant and configured to receive desalinated water from the water        desalination plant for use in aquaculture.        62. The system according to Clause 61, wherein the aquaculture        center is a fresh water aquaculture center.        63. A method of cultivating aquatic organisms, the method        comprising:    -   (a) desalinating water received into a water desalination plant;        and    -   (b) cultivating aquatic organisms in an aquaculture center        co-located with the water desalination plant using desalinated        water received into the aquaculture center from the water        desalinization plant.        64. The method according to Clause 63, wherein the aquaculture        center is a fresh water aquaculture center.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity ofunderstanding, it is readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in theart in light of the teachings of this invention that certain changes andmodifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit orscope of the appended claims. It is also to be understood that theterminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope ofthe present invention will be limited only by the appended claims.

Accordingly, the preceding merely illustrates the principles of theinvention. It will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will beable to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitlydescribed or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention andare included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples andconditional language recited herein are principally intended to aid thereader in understanding the principles of the invention and the conceptscontributed by the inventors to furthering the art, and are to beconstrued as being without limitation to such specifically recitedexamples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein recitingprinciples, aspects, and embodiments of the invention as well asspecific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural andfunctional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that suchequivalents include both currently known equivalents and equivalentsdeveloped in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform thesame function, regardless of structure. The scope of the presentinvention, therefore, is not intended to be limited to the exemplaryembodiments shown and described herein. Rather, the scope and spirit ofpresent invention is embodied by the appended claims.

1. A system comprising: (a) a heat source comprising a water coolingsubsystem configured to receive cool water and output warm water; and(b) an aquaculture center co-located with heat source and comprising awater temperature control subsystem configured to receive the outputwarm water.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cool wateris received from an ocean or sea.
 3. The system according to claim 1,wherein the water cooling subsystem comprises a water intake.
 4. Thesystem according to claim 3, wherein the water intake is positioned at adepth of 15 m or more in a water source.
 5. The system according toclaim 3, wherein the water intake is positioned below the photic zone ina water source.
 6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising awater discharge for discharging water from the aquaculture center. 7.The system according to claim 6, wherein the water discharge ispositioned at a depth of 15 m or more in a body of water.
 8. The systemaccording to claim 7, wherein the body of water is the same body ofwater from which the water cooling subsystem receives the cool water. 9.The system according to claim 1, further comprising a power plantco-located with the data center and the aquaculture center.
 10. Thesystem according to claim 9, wherein the power plant is operablyconnected to both of the data center and the aquaculture center.
 11. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the heat source and aquaculturecenter are configured to produce fewer carbon emissions as compared tothe same heat source and aquaculture center operating independently. 12.The system according to claim 1, wherein the heat source and aquaculturecenter are configured to use less energy per amount of heat sourcecooling and per amount of aquatic life cultivated as compared to thesame heat source and aquaculture center operating independently.
 13. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the heat source is a data center.14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the data center has apower usage effectiveness less than
 2. 15. A method of cooling a heatsource, the method comprising: (a) cooling the heat source with a watercooling subsystem comprising a cool water intake and a warm waterdischarge; and (b) cultivating aquatic organisms with an aquaculturecenter co-located with the heat source and comprising a watertemperature control subsystem comprising a warm water intake forreceiving water from the warm water discharge.
 16. The method accordingto claim 15, wherein the heat source comprises a data center.
 17. Themethod according to claim 16, wherein the data center has a power usageeffectiveness less than
 2. 18. The method according to claim 15, whereinthe heat source is present on land.
 19. The method according to claim15, wherein the cool water is received from an ocean or sea.
 20. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the heat source is present on land.